Culver City’s oldest preschool marks its 75th anniversary with community celebration on Saturday, April 29th, 2023, from 10:30am-1:00pm at Lindberg Park’s Stone House, located at 5041 Rhoda Way, Culver City, California. La Playa Cooperative Nursery School invites the greater community to a celebration of its 75 years in Culver City. The celebration will share La Playa’s history, honor those who’ve helped in its development, and will include all things for kids (big and small!) to enjoy: a music and bubble party, face painting and temporary tattoos, exploration station, food trucks, complimentary snacks and drinks, and even a visit from a Culver City fire truck.
La Playa encourages community-conscious, curious kids through a play-based curriculum. It also helps the parents and grown-ups of those kids work together to become better, kinder people – and in turn, create a stronger, more helpful community. In addition to its operation as a preschool during weekday mornings, La Playa is also a cooperative community, a resource center for parent education, and an active non-profit reaching out to the greater community.
Recently, board president Tamara Johnson spoke at the March 27th Culver City city council meeting, discussing La Playa’s significant history as an essential cornerstone in the city. “When parents began the school in 1948,” she said, “they ran the program out of their homes, yards, or in parks. Then, in 1953, those dedicated parents and the city of Culver City arranged for
the school to be held where it still runs today – in the Stone House of Lindberg Park. La Playa Cooperative Nursery School has been there for a whopping 70 years! In that time, Culver City’s La Playa has nurtured hundreds of children, their families, and the surrounding community.”
With a foundation of community service, the children and grownups who pass through the doors of La Playa continue to help others. They’ve served as CCUSD teachers and staff, PTA members and presidents, business leaders, actively involved parents and community members, and even a former Culver City Mayor.
La Playa continues to make an impact in its city. It was recently awarded the 2022 “BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL” from Westside Today’s BEST OF CULVER CITY awards. At the 75th Anniversary celebration on April 29th, the City of Culver City will present La Playa with an official proclamation in appreciation of its presence and service to children and the surrounding community.
Tamara Johnson
