Construction is now 75 percent complete for the Obama Sport Center's multi-year makeover in Baldwin Hills.

New construction at the Obama Sports CenterSPF:architects

The 29-acre park, located between Dorsey High School and Metro's Expo/La Brea Station, is now two-and-a-half years into a multi-million dollar revamp which will add new recreational amenities to the complex.  The new master plan by SPF:architects adds several prefabricated structures containing:

  • a 23,000-square-foot swimming pool;
  • a 16,000-square-foot basketball gymnasium;
  • a walking track;
  • seating areas overlooking the adjoining tennis center and stadium; and
  • an enclosed garden for the existing community building.

The master plan - which was also developed by Hood Design Studio ad engineering firm Buro Happold - also adds drought tolerant landscaping to the park, which is designed in a grid-shaped pattern.  According to the SPF website, the park includes five distinct ecologies - high desert, canyon, coastal, chaparral, and medicinal - which tie the sports fields together and creates usable green space in between.

Rendered aerial view of the Obama Sports CenterSPF:architects

The City of Los Angeles expects to complete work on the Obama Sports Center in mid-summer.  To date, construction has occured in phases to allow portions of the park to remain open for the duration of the makeover.

The park, originally known as the Rancho Cienega Sports Complex, was recently renamed in honor of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.  In 2007, Obama held his first Los Angeles area campaign rally in the park.

Prior to its connection to the 44th president, the park's most notable claim to fame was its connection to the celebrated tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, both of whom trained at the complex as children.

Rendering of Jackie Robinson StadiumSPF:architects