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Residents urge commission to preserve lawn bowling greens as commission schedules review
Summary
Multiple residents told the Parks & Recreation Commission that Hermosa Beach’s lawn bowling greens are an active, intergenerational amenity and urged the city not to repurpose the site; staff said a formal agreement and a legal review are pending and the commission will review operations in August.
Several longtime Hermosa Beach residents told the Parks & Recreation Commission on July 7 that the city should preserve the lawn bowling greens adjacent to the Clark Building rather than repurpose the space.
“Lawn bowling is generally considered an older person’s sport,” said Cathy Welch, a near‑50‑year resident, adding that the club fields members in their 30s–50s, runs student art‑and‑youth activities and is used nearly every day. Welch said she was alarmed by a council member’s social‑media post suggesting the space was under review and asked staff to clarify a wide repair estimate she saw in the budget, which listed figures from “$500 to $2,000,000.”
Tom Welch, a club member, described the sport’s physical and social benefits and noted that volunteer members maintain the green, host tournaments that bring spending to town and provide inexpensive recreation. Linda Perkis spoke about her husband’s recovery and said, “Without this club, I don't think he would be nearly as far along in his recovery as he is today,” stressing the greens’ role in health and social support.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and sought clarification from staff. Lisa, a Parks & Recreation staff member, said a legal review is underway; staff must finalize an agreement before the commission can evaluate operational changes. She said the city plans to publish a staff report and that the item will be on the commission’s August agenda after the council addresses the consent‑calendar agreement.
No formal decision was made; the commission instructed staff to bring a staff report and the proposed agreement back so commissioners can review operations and provide feedback in August.
