Lulu’s Place will be L.A.’s latest investment in youth sports and education
On May 8, one of the largest philanthropic investments ever for the youth of Los Angeles broke ground just north of LAX and the $150-million athletic and educational complex will be known as “Lulu’s Place” in memory of Carol Richardson Kimmelman, who was passionate about tennis, teaching and Southern California.
Located at the intersection of 92nd Street and Falmouth Avenue, next door to St. Bernard High, Lulu’s Place will be built on 31 acres of long vacant land with public sports and recreational facilities, including tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts, full-length soccer fields, playgrounds, walking paths and a dog park. Construction is estimated to last two years.
“My four children and I are deeply committed to honoring Lulu’s legacy and her passionate belief in the power of tennis and other sports to impart valuable life skills that are essential for personal growth and academic success,” said Lulu’s husband and leading donor Doug Kimmelman, who was joined at the groundbreaking by his three oldest children, Annie, Robert and Tommy, who all live in Florida. “This is a once-in-a-generation investment toward creating inter-generational change. Our goal is for Lulu’s Place to become a national model for making sports and education more equitable for youth.”