The History Behind Playa Vista and the Ballona Wetlands

Today Playa Vista and the  Friends of Ballona Wetlands are allies, but that wasn't always the case. Since the 1970s, the development of Playa Vista has been controversial. The initial plan for  Playa Vista was to develop a major cityscape focused on commercial space and skyscrapers. These plans left Ballona with only 170 of the historical 1,187 acres. After years of environmental activism, litigation, and eventual settlements, Playa Vista and the Friends worked together to create a plan that satisfied both parties needs. The Friends, led by our founder Ruth Lansford, and former City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, negotiated an  $18 million mitigation plan to create a 24-acre freshwater marsh, a 26-acre riparian corridor, and $750,000 to fund a restoration returning salt water flows from Ballona Creek to the salt pans and wetlands. An incredible win that put our organization on the map and sculpted our mission to protect, restore, educate, and advocate for the now 577 acres of the Ballona Wetlands. 

Dive deeper into the controversial history of the Ballona Wetlands and the development of Playa Vista with the Playa Vista Institute’s documentary Playa Vista – A Four Decade Overnight Success.

Veteran Friends docent Bruce Schelden was an integral part of the making of this documentary. Make sure to keep an eye out as he is interviewed throughout the film! Join Bruce on a tour on the first Saturday of the month at the Freshwater Marsh! Visit our Community Events Calendar to Register! 

Photo Credit: Peter Bennett