Stoner Park

Stoner Park is named after Stoner Avenue which was named after Albert J. Stoner.^[1] Stoner Avenue runs along the northeast side of Stoner Park. Before being named after AJ Stoner, Stoner Ave. was known as 12th street.^[1] In 1919, several Sawtelle streets were renamed for Civil War battles including 12th Street which became Carthage Ave.^[1] After Sawtelle merged with Los Angeles, Carthage became 112th street. In 1925, it was officially renamed Stoner Ave. after AJ Stoner, a pillar of the Sawtelle community, as a proprietor of a lumber business and the last president of the Sawtelle Chamber of Commerce and a key supporter of the annexation of Sawtelle into Los Angeles.^[1]

In 1923, Sawtelle businessman Walter Armacost advocated the purchase of 40 acres for the playground.^[2]

In 1925, the Los Angeles Playground Commission bought 10 acres for a new playground from Burns and Overcash at 112th street and Missouri avenues in Sawtelle.^[3] This land is the basis for Stoner Park.^[3]

Stoner Park became a park 1926, opening for the first time for a baseball game. The Stoner Recreation Center was originally known as the West Los Angeles community Building and Plunge (Pool).^[4]

Stoner Park includes one large play area with a sand surface for children about 2 years and up.^[5][6][7]

The Stoner Park Pool is an aquatic playground that includes wading pools, fountains, and a water slide.^[4] Stoner Recreation Center and Pool offer swimming classes and a junior lifeguard program.^[8]

The Stoner Park skatepark, known as Stoner Park Skate Plaza, opening in 2010, was designed and built by California Skateparks.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}

Stoner Park contains a Japanese Garden designed and planted by the local Japanese community.^[14]