Galaxy Paints Murals at South Bay Park

The Los Angeles Galaxy began a season-long series of monthly community service projects Friday with players, coaches, staff and alumni joining students from DaVinci Design High School in a community paint day at Hawthorne Memorial Park.

The students designed murals that reflected themes of community pride and the beauty of soccer in the initial LA Galaxy Foundation Friday, according to Lauren Nowinski, the Galaxy’s community relations director and director of the LA Galaxy Foundation.

Following the community paint day, Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza, midfielders Steven Gerrard and Baggio Husidic and forward Gyasi Zardes joined in the dedication of three new soccer fields that were transformed from neglected tennis courts, thanks to funding from the Major League Soccer team and Chevrolet, Nowinski said.

Soccer was previously banned in the park, Nowinski said.

Future LA Galaxy Foundation Fridays will include a Santa Ana graffiti removal day (Feb. 26), Vietnam veteran celebration (March 18) and a volunteer day with TreePeople (April 22), Nowinski said.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the L.A. Galaxy