PACOIMA : Park to Be Dedicated to Late Ritchie Valens

Fans of the late rock ‘n’ roll legend Ritchie Valens are invited to Pacoima on Saturday to celebrate the dedication of the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center.

The event, to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., renames Paxton Park after Ritchie, a Pacoima native. The park is located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd.

Expected to appear at the ribbon-cutting ceremony are family members of Ritchie’s, along with Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who proposed the name change in June. The Department of Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners and the City Council later approved the change.

Entertainment will include the Ernie Valens band, Shaken and several other musical groups.

The name change is part of a community effort to inspire pride and self-esteem. Born Richard Valenzuela in Pacoima, Ritchie climbed out of this working-class neighborhood to become a rock icon in the late 1950s. His career and life were cut short, however, when he was killed at the age of 17 in a 1959 plane crash along with Buddy Holly and J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson.