"The most important and beautiful gift one human being can give to another is, in some way to make life a little better to live." ~Ellen Browning Scripps
About us
Recognizing the needs of the community have changed over the past one hundred years, a diverse group of local, dedicated volunteers comprised of professionals, including architects, landscape architects, general contractors, engineers, historians, graphic designers, parents and interested community members, joined together to revitalize this community treasure.
This group of community leaders brings their diverse perspectives, experiences, and a comprehensive approach to revitalizing our beloved Recreation Center. Once complete, the center will foster deeper engagement by increasing options for dynamic educational and recreational programming for the entire community.
​
Above: Proposed restoration of historic trellis encircling new splash pad with amphitheater-style seating. Subject to change.
The La Jolla Recreation Center celebrates vibrant community connections.
Commissioned by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps and designed by architect Irving Gill, the La Jolla Recreation Center opened in 1915 as the civic heart of La Jolla, offering public meeting spaces and the first playground west of the Mississippi. The history of the building and the site itself are inherent community assets to honor and protect.
Embracing Scripps’s ideals to create a safe, inclusive center for the entire community to enjoy, the renovation project envisions what’s possible for the next one hundred years and beyond.
Join us in celebrating this transformation, which will enable the Rec Center to continue the Scripps legacy in purposeful new ways.
Friends of La Jolla Recreation Center 501(c)(3) Team
Dan McCandless President
Jill Peters Vice President
Gail Forbes
Jan Harris
Alexis McCandless
Mary Coakley Munk
Pat Miller
Don Goertz
Visioning Committee Members
Jill Peters Co-Chair
Alexis McCandless Co-Chair
Trace Wilson Architect and Master Planner
Jennifer Phelps Landscape Architect
Diane Kane Architectural Historian
Tom Grunow Licensed General Contractor
Don Goertz Architect
Mary Coakley Munk