The La Jolla Recreational Center is a historic
recreation center
A leisure centre, sports centre, or recreation centre is a purpose-built building or site, usually owned and provided by the local government authority, where people can engage in a variety of sports and exercise, and keep fit.
Typical facilit ...
in the
La Jolla
La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood in San Diego, California, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature o ...
neighborhood of
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
, California. It was commissioned by philanthropist
Ellen Browning Scripps
Ellen Browning Scripps (October 18, 1836 – August 3, 1932) was an American journalist and philanthropist who was the founding donor of several major institutions in Southern California. She and her half-brother E. W. Scripps, E.W. Scripps creat ...
on property adjacent to her home, and designed by San Diego architect
Irving Gill
Irving John Gill (April 26, 1870 – October 7, 1936), was an American architect, known professionally as Irving J. Gill. He did most of his work in Southern California, especially in San Diego and Los Angeles. He is considered a pioneer of the ...
.
The center was completed in 1915; Scripps donated it to the City of San Diego the same year. On September 7, 1973, it was designated as San Diego Historic Landmark #86.
History
The facility was originally called the Children's Playground and Recreation Center and has always included a children's play area as well as the recreation center building.
It was dedicated on July 3, 1915. Scripps stipulated in the gift bequest that the building must be open to any person, regardless of "race, creed or opinions."
The first recreation director, Archibald Talbot, was hired in 1919 and remained until 1952. He and his wife, Agnes, developed a vigorous program of sports, particularly baseball and tennis.
Current status
The center is now known as the La Jolla Recreation Center and is operated by the City of San Diego.
The building's appearance has not been substantially altered from the 1915 original.
In addition to hosting a variety of sports and recreation programs, it is the meeting place for many civic groups including the La Jolla Town Council and the La Jolla Community Planning Group.
On July 25, 2015, the center celebrated its 100th anniversary. The director of the La Jolla Recreation Council commented, "The Rec Center has always been a great place. It’s a centerpoint for La Jolla. Generations of people have grown up here and had their children play — and their children’s children play here. And that’s what Ellen Browning Scripps wanted, to let children have fun."
See also
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List of San Diego Historical Landmarks in La Jolla
This is a List of San Diego Historical Landmarks in La Jolla. In 1967, the City of San Diego established a Historical Resources Board with the authority to designate and protect the city's landmark buildings and structures. In total, the city ha ...
References
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Irving Gill buildings
La Jolla, San Diego
Buildings and structures in San Diego
History of San Diego
Landmarks in San Diego
Buildings and structures completed in 1915