Douglas Park (Santa Monica)

Douglas Park is a 10.7 acres (4.3 ha) park in Santa Monica, California. Formerly the site of an aircraft factory and movie studio lot, the park is named after Donald Douglas and hosts a number of facilities, including a bowling green and Los Angeles County's largest municipal pond.

Douglas Park
Location2439 Wilshire Boulevard
Nearest citySanta Monica, California
Coordinates34.03569°N 118.47930°W / 34.03569; -118.47930
Area10.7 acres (4.3 ha)
Created1933
DesignerEd Howard
Operated bySanta Monica Community Services Department

History

Prior to construction, the site had been used as an aircraft factory for the Douglas Aircraft Company and a movie studio lot.[1] However, the size of the surrounding trees limited the size of planes that could depart from the factory and made it difficult for pilots to take off from the factory, requiring some planes to be wheeled through the streets of Santa Monica.[1] Thus, in 1927, the factory was relocated to Clover Field, now known as the Santa Monica Airport. [1]

Following the closure of the factory, Santa Monica elected to transform the land into a park. Ed Howard was selected as the architect.[2] Construction on the park began in 1931 and was completed in 1933. [2] The park was originally named Padre Park before being renamed to acknowledge Donald Douglas, the founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company.[1]

Facilities

The park hosts a number of facilities including two tennis courts, picnic tables, a playground, a clubhouse, three reflecting pools, and a lawn bowling green.[3][4] The park's bowling greens are particularly popular and host the Santa Monica Bowls Club.[5] The park's man-made waterscape is also the largest municipal pond in Los Angeles County and hosts a variety of ducks, turtles, and fish.[6]

References
  1. "Douglas Park | Los Angeles Conservancy". www.laconservancy.org. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  2. "Douglas Park (bounded by Wilshire Blvd., California Avenue, Chelsea Avenue, and Twenty-Fifth Street) Santa Monica, Calif. was created between 1931-33, designed by Ed Howard". Calisphere. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  3. "Douglas Park - Community Services Department". www.smgov.net. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  4. "Douglas Park | Douglas Park Santa Monica | Santa Monica". Visit Santa Monica. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  5. "Santa Monica's Secret – Revealed". Santa Monica Daily Press. 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  6. "Douglas Park in Los Angeles California". California Waters. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
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