Feuer to Hold Meeting on Park Improvement

Officials at a popular park in a quiet neighborhood face a difficult balancing act--trying to preserve its pastoral charm while making much-needed renovations and expanding its facilities, a park official said.

The Studio City Recreation Center at a park on Rye Street, a short cul-de-sac, has been in need of renovation for years, said Recreation Director Randy Kelly.

Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Feuer is scheduled to chair a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the center, where groups will present proposals for changing the park’s appearance.

“It’s a very heavily used park,” said Sharon Mayer, a deputy in Feuer’s office. “There are always going to be competing constituencies in parks.”

The 33-year-old Studio City Park Players, who bill themselves as the San Fernando Valley’s longest-running theater group, are seeking public funds for a new theater building on park grounds.

The park’s location, Kelly added, makes neighbors a bit wary of change.

“It’s tucked away in a residential area, so people don’t want to think of it expanding too much,” he said. “But people need some better facilities. It’s sort of a Catch-22.”

Kelly said improvements to the recreation center would not increase its square footage, but would bring restrooms up to state code and smooth out the main floor.

The Park Players propose a separate $500,000 facility near the existing one that could accommodate recreation activities in addition to theater.