THE VA TO PRESERVE PARTNERSHIP W/ VETERANS PARK CONSERVANCY & KEEP HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN AMPHITHEATER ON WEST LA CAMPUS

Los Angeles, CA – As part of the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (WLA VA) redevelopment master plan, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reaffirmed its partnership with the Veterans Park Conversancy (VPC). As part of this continuing partnership, the Hollywood Canteen Amphitheater will be relocated to a mutually agreed upon site, yet to determined, on the north campus. This decision by the VA recognizes the importance of the amphitheater as a valuable resource to holistic therapeutic healing and underscores the on-going significance of VPC’s partnership with WLA VA, committed to improving the lives of all veterans.

In the relocation agreement, the VA recognizes the long history of a partnership in which VPC has contributed substantial improvements to campus infrastructure of more than $10 million for the benefit of veterans. The parties have agreed “to continue to work together in good faith”, possibly including additional VPC projects on the campus and the Los Angeles National Cemetery – projects that comport with the VA’s ongoing master planning process. VPC will remove the partially-constructed amphitheater from its current location by July 18, 2016 as part of its agreement with WLA VA.

“We are pleased that the Department of Veterans Affairs shares our belief that the Hollywood Canteen Amphitheater will help serve the needs of all veterans at the West LA VA,” said Curtis Mack, Executive Director of the VPC. “It will be an ideal part of the re-designed campus, enhancing the social experience of veterans as an engaging and transformative space in their midst.”

The amphitheater will function as a communal-hub platform that can be used for such things as performing arts events for veterans to enjoy and partake in, as well as for group activities such as meditation, yoga, health-related discussions and readings. During the master plan public comment period, VPC suggested the establishment of a town center to serve as a centrally-located social gathering site for veterans.

VPC is a non-profit organization that has been committed to serving veterans for nearly 30 years. Supported entirely by private funding, VPC has worked in partnership with the VA to preserve more than 400 acres of the WLA VA campus. It funds projects that support the VA’s holistic healing efforts by creating a calming and therapeutic environment for veterans. In addition to the amphitheater, VPC projects include the 1947 Women Veterans Rose Garden, Gateway Landmark Plaza, the restoration of the Spanish-American War Memorial and a grand entrance and fencing for the Los Angeles National Cemetery. VPC’s role as a veteran-centric partner has been recognized by the VA for almost three decades, and welcomes the opportunity to participate in the campus’ redevelopment as implementation of the master plan moves forward.

“VPC is honored to be a part of the long-term plan and vision for the West LA VA campus. We look forward to further enhancing the services offered to our veterans and in continuing to make the campus a beautiful sanctuary that commemorates our brave servicemen and women,” added Mack.

About: For nearly 30 years, the Veterans Park Conservancy (VPC) has worked with the WLA VA and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in a successful public-private partnership—honoring our military veterans by preserving, protecting and enhancing the West Los Angeles VA property. Originally formed to protect the property from commercial development and sale, VPC continues to be guided by the singular goal of paying tribute to our veterans—past, present and future. www.veteransparkconservancy.org