This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
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 September 25, 1963 reads, "David Cowdrey, left, president of the Valley Play Park Association, and Fred Raio, luncheon chairman, study a model of the first two acres of Land of Oz play park expected to open in the Valley next year. Cowdrey discussed plans for the center at a luncheon of Valley industrialists and financiers." The article partially reads, "Final plans and a scale model of the first two acres of the park were shown Tuesday to a group of 50 Valley industrialists and financiers at a luncheon at the Sportsmen's Lodge, Studio City...Leonard Shane, president of the Los Angeles Recreation and Park Commission, acclaimed the project as an outstanding example of government-community cooperation 'which the world is watching.'"
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Valley Children's Play Park Association--Presidents Sportsmen's Lodge (Los Angeles, Calif.) Men--California--Los Angeles Oz (Imaginary place) Oz (Imaginary place) in art Playgrounds--California--Los Angeles--Design and construction Playgrounds--Models--California--Los Angeles Architectural models--California--Los Angeles Studio City (Los Angeles, Calif.) Group portraits Portrait photographs Valley Times Collection photographs
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