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Photograph was edited for publication purposes The Land of Oz playground was located within the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park located at 14201 Huston Street in Sherman Oaks. Planning for the playground, which broke ground on November 27, 1964, began as a joint venture between the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department, the Van Nuys Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Valley Children's Play Park Association. However, lack of funding for the 'Wizard of Oz' themed playground caused construction to drag on for more than a decade. In the end, the city withdrew further support for the failed project which was left incomplete and with only a few structures standing, the 'Over the Rainbow' bridge and 'Munchkinland' castle. Over the years, with no funding for maintenance or security, the play area and its structures fell victim to gang and drug activity, vandalism, and decay and were demolished in the late 1980's. Photograph caption dated May 1, 1963 reads, "Jim McNary, Los Angeles industrial designer, assembles a portion of his model of the Land of Oz, a children's park to be built at the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park. The Land of Oz will be patterned after the mythical land of Oz, home of the wonderful wizard."
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Industrial designers--California--San Fernando Valley Men--California--San Fernando Valley Oz (Imaginary place) Oz (Imaginary place) in art Playgrounds--California--San Fernando Valley--Design and construction Playgrounds--Models--California--San Fernando Valley Architectural models--California--San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley (Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
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