Lanark Recreation Center21816 Lanark St., Canoga ParkSize:...

Lanark Recreation Center

21816 Lanark St., Canoga Park

Size: 19 acres

Facilities: Lighted tennis courts, baseball diamonds, swimming pool, indoor gymnasium, picnic facilities, play area.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Information: (818) 883-1503

Before Ray Notaro came along, Lanark Recreation Center was just another city park. But in 1986, Notaro and Frankie Goodman started the Lanark Boxing Club and began organizing classes enabling area youngsters to learn how to box. Today, more than 300 children, some as young as 8, have participated in the boxing program. Safety gear is provided by the park and a nominal registration fee pays for a mouthpiece and hand wrappings.

Lanark also is the only city park with a fencing program. Instructor Edwin Hurst offers night classes three times a week to the public. Both programs have helped bring more young people to the park, said park director John Perez Jr. “Lanark is a place of diversity where a child can get involved in the typical baseball, tennis or swimming,” Perez said. And the atypical too.