Community Spotlight: Playa del Rey leaders look to give Culver Blvd. stairs a mosaic makeover A group of Playa del Rey residents and local business leaders are hoping to add a little beauty to the community with a new public art project focusing on the “Earldom stairs.” The stairs, which provide a shortcut from Pershing Drive to the lower Playa del Rey business area, are a community hidden gem according to Playa Stairs Project committee co-chair, Matt Rheault, who is a co-owner of Culver Blvd.’s Clean Aesthetic and was recently appointed to the Playa del Rey business seat on the Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council. He says in the last year, Playa del Rey has been through a lot, citing the controversial “road diet” that saw lanes reduced on Culver Blvd. and pitted neighbors against neighbors who were either for or against the traffic measure. Wanting to find a way to bring the community together for a common goal, the idea for a public art project was proposed by Playa del Rey resident, Naomi Hochman. While using the shortcut one day, she decided the 32 step staircase, which is located behind a pump house off of Culver Blvd., would make the perfect location for a beautification project that the whole community could hopefully support and work together to
The Playa Stairs Project committee is looking for the community’s support to help beautify the staircase that connects Pershing Drive with Culver Blvd.
accomplish. “Beautification is something that everyone can get behind,” said Hochman. “There is nothing political or controversial about making things beautiful. There is already natural beauty in Playa and more public art that has gone up in recent months,
so why not make these stairs something beautiful and notable?” Using inspiration from decorated walkways like San Francisco’s 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, the Playa Stairs Project Committee is looking to raise $25,000 for the first phase of the plan to fund installing a colorful, dynamic
mosaic on the stairs, turning them into a functioning art installation and a source of Playa del Rey pride. The goal is to also help put the close-knit beach community on the map as an art destination, bringing with it tourists and visitors who will patronize local businesses as they get their Instagramworthy snapshots. “Everyone I’ve spoke to about the stairs is super excited. It’s not an eyesore, but it’s certainly not beautified,” said Hochman. “Everyone is really energized. This could be a really cool project to bring to this really different, cool, unique community.” The group is currently accepting design proposals from mosaic tile artists. While the project is still in the early planning stages, Rheault says landscaping around the stairs and a mural on the pump station are other ideas the committee is considering proposing to the community. “It’s been a polarizing time for Playa, and we want to remind people that we are a community and we are here to help each other. There are things that can help bring us together, like showing the artistic side of Playa.” For more info on the project or to donate, visit playastairsproject.org.
Ed Foundation & Kiwanis partner to raise money for scholarships The LAX Coastal Education Foundation and the LAX Kiwanis Club have teamed up for the first time to raise money for local schools and high school scholarships. Since both nonprofits have a similar mission--to support education in the community--the idea to partner for the Kiwanis’ 27th Annual Golf Tournament was a no-brainer. “When our local Kiwanis Club approached us about working together to make this year’s golf tournament their biggest yet, we jumped on board,” said LAX Coastal Ed Foundation President Matthew Swanlund. “Being a new organization, these community collaborations are invaluable for us to succeed and support our local schools.” The foundation, which supports public, private and parochial schools in Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista and Marina del Rey, was launched last fall and has already been able to provide schools with more than $140,000 in funds thanks to the inaugural Rock Roll and Run 5K for Education held in March and a partnership with SoCalGas to provide STEM grants for classrooms. The golf tournament hopes to raise more than $50,000 through sponsorships, golfers and the widely popular
“golf ball drop.” The nonprofits are currently selling $20 numbered golf balls that will be dropped from a helicopter, with the ball closest to the center target winning a cash prize. “Every donation helps,” said LAX Kiwanis golf committee member and past Kiwanis President, Jeff DeLarme. “These scholarships mean the world to local seniors who come from families with incomes that are often at or below the poverty level. These deserving students not only have excellent GPA’s, but are also active volunteers in their own communities, participating in activities such as beach clean-ups, tutoring and mentoring underclassmen. And in many cases, these students are working part time and sometimes full time while in high school to support their families.” The golf tournament will take place on Monday, August 27 at the Palos Verdes Golf Club at noon. In addition to golfing, guests will also enjoy a dinner featuring keynote speaker, Deborah Flint, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, a raffle and a silent auction. For more info on the event or to purchase a chance at the golf ball drop, please visit laxkiwanis.org or laxcoastaledfoundation.com.
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