Parks have always played an important role in Culver City—we even had a Park Master Plan in 1927, with three proposed parks! When Harry Culver announced his plans for his city, in 1913, the Ivy Substation served this area next to a little depot where Culver was destined to notice Lillian Roberts, the beautiful young actress who became Mrs. Harry Culver in 1916. The ever-creative Culver gave a trip around the world to a pharmacist in Palms for naming the adjacent “Media Park.” Located on a main transportation route, on the northern boundary of Culver City, that complex represented itself as entry to the city.

Harry Culver’s first local offices were on Main Street and then in the first two floors of the Hotel Hunt (now Culver Hotel). He had a sales force of hundreds. Over the years, I learned that one of our neighbors, Josephine McMinn, worked in the “Hotel Hunt” for Mr. Culver. In a 1996 interview she talked about walking over to Media Park in those early days, to have lunch with other employees of the Harry H. Culver Investment Co.

In the long run, the Ivy and Media Park remained in Los Angeles. By 1954, the historic Mission Revival style building stood empty and eventually the weathered structure became a haven for transients. Recognizing the importance of their image as an entry to our city, the Culver City Redevelopment Agency entered into a long-term lease with the City of Los Angeles in l987, which included the adjacent Media Park.

The renovation of the building and park was funded by the Culver City Redevelopment Agency. Los Angeles retained jurisdiction over the properties with review by the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, and the Cultural Heritage and Cultural Affairs Commission. This also assured that the renovation would comply with the standards established by the U. S. Secretary of the Interior. The reopening of the Ivy and Media Park took place in 1993. It has since become a show-piece venue for events and performing arts.