Ballona Discovery Park, located in Playa Vista, hosted a "Friendraiser" for the communityBallona Discovery Park, located in Playa Vista, was born from a three-way partnership of Loyola Marymount University, Friends of Ballona Wetlands and the community of Playa Vista. On June 24, 2025, the Board of Directors of this Partnership hosted community members for a "Friendraiser", featuring tours of the park, food and libations, and words of inspiration from park Directors representing each of the Partners.Co...
Ballona Discovery Park, located in Playa Vista, hosted a "Friendraiser" for the community
Ballona Discovery Park, located in Playa Vista, was born from a three-way partnership of Loyola Marymount University, Friends of Ballona Wetlands and the community of Playa Vista. On June 24, 2025, the Board of Directors of this Partnership hosted community members for a "Friendraiser", featuring tours of the park, food and libations, and words of inspiration from park Directors representing each of the Partners.
Community members gathered to celebrate Ballona Discovery Park
The event was the first fundraising effort by the Ballona Discovery Park Partnership since its creation twenty years ago. Funds and in-kind services for the park had been contributed annually only by LMU, Friends of Ballona Wetlands and Playa Vista's homeowners and will continue per a partnership agreement between the three. About 80 community members attended this event, with all proceeds going to the maintenance and improvement of the Park's educational elements.
LMU Professor Eric Strauss addressed the gathered invitees
Ballona Discovery Park is unique among Playa Vista's 29 parks due to its focus on environmental education, wetlands and the history of the Gabrielino Tongva Indians, who lived at the location and surrounding unceded land dating back at least 8000 years. The park celebrates these people, who are still among our fellow Angelinos. Discovery Park also showcases the importance of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, and serves as a gateway to the wetlands and the Ballona Freshwater Marsh, which are just a short walk from the park.
Robert Dorame, most likely descendant of the Gabrielino Tongva people, with Ruth Lansford, Founder of Friends of Ballona Wetlands
The Ballona Discovery Park Partnership recently established a website for the Park, with various links to educational resources as well as a portal for charitable donations. The Partnership is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The website can be accessed at this >Link. Also, folks can follow Ballona Discovery Park at: Instagram: BallonaDiscoveryPark , and Facebook: DiscoveryParkBallona
Former L.A. City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter and Community Leader Karen Dial
Catherine Tyrrell, Friends of Ballona Wetlands and Discovery Park Board Member
Educational displays abound in Ballona Discovery Park
Park Board member representing LMU, John Skidmore and wife Kay, with Park Manager and Board President, Lisa Fimiani, celebrating the park's newly installed drinking fountain.
Only native vegetation graces Ballona Discovery Park
A Red-Tailed Hawk guarded the event from above
Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!
Disclosure of author's affiliations:
Dr. David W. Kay served on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Friends of Ballona Wetlands from 2007 until 2015, and served as Board President in 2012-13. He presently serves on the Board of Ballona Discovery Park in Playa Vista. Dr. Kay is a staunch advocate for the state of California's plans to restore the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.’s>
From 1984 until 2022, Dr. Kay was employed by Southern California Edison Company, exclusively in the company's environmental services organizations. His many responsibilities included restoration of the 440-acre San Dieguito Wetlands near Del Mar. He retired in 2022 as Senior Manager for Major Project Environmental Management at the company, after 38 years of service.
Dr. Kay earned bachelor and masters degrees in biology and a doctorate in environmental science.See Dr. Kay’s Patch Community Contributor profile here.