Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick joins the effort to rebuild a fire-damaged recreation centre as construction begins in the Palisades

JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers head coach and co-founder of LA Strong Sports, has joined the effort to rebuild the Palisades Recreation Centre, a fire-damaged recreation centre that has now entered construction. The Palisades Recreation Centre rebuild covers the centre and its surrounding park, which were severely damaged in the Palisades Fire. As Los Angeles wildfire recovery continues, the project is intended to restore the gathering spaces that anchor community life in the Palisades, giving residents a rebuilt home for sport and recreation. The project unites a sports organisation, a private group and city government in a single public-private partnership.Who attended the Palisades Recreation Centre groundbreaking and how the April 2025 partnership beganThe ceremony, according to the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, drew Mayor Karen Bass, Rick Caruso, who is founder and chairman of Steadfast LA, Councilwoman Traci Park, Redick and other civic and community leaders. The route to the groundbreaking began in April 2025, when Steadfast LA, LA Strong Sports and the City of Los Angeles formed a partnership to fund, redesign and rebuild the space. In the same statement, Caruso thanked the professional firms involved, including Gensler, SWA, Freeman Group and Latham & Watkins. He also thanked Deputy Mayor Amanda Daflos and Jimmy Kim and his department at Recreation and Parks.Why JJ and Chelsea Redick backed the Palisades Recreation Centre rebuild after moving to the communityThe Redicks said in the statement that the recreation centre was a big part of why they chose to move to the neighbourhood with their family. They believe every community needs a place where individuals and families can play and compete, and they described rebuilding it as a significant step for their own. They added that they are glad to help make it happen alongside their neighbours and partners.Rick Caruso, Mayor Bass and Councilwoman Park on rebuilding the places that bring the Palisades togetherMayor Bass said in a statement from her office that the city's top pledge has been to remove every obstacle to rebuilding. She credited public-private partnerships with moving recovery forward for a community that has endured significant loss. Councilwoman Park recalled standing at the centre the day after the fire, surrounded by devastation, and said the beloved space is now being brought back. Caruso said Steadfast LA was formed on the principle that "the comeback is always stronger than the setback". He called rebuilding the places where people gather the first step in restoring a community, pointed to Palisades Village as an earlier example, and said cooperation between government, business and community speeds up real progress.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.