The Neighborhood News Online

Marie Tropet, New Executive Director at The South Seas House

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Category: Community News

Published on Friday, 10 April 2015 16:45

Written by Renee Montgomery

The long-time parks leader, Marie Tropet, has been appointed to West Adams' South Sea House, an LA City Recreation and Parks facility located in an historic former home on 24th Street and Normandie.  Tropet, who started at the SSH last October, has served in some of Los Angeles' most challenging neighborhoods.  She formerly served as director of Recreation and Parks at Glassell Park for over seven years after having had responsibility for the Mobile Youth Unit at Pershing Square on Skid Row and the Gladys Park Program for Seniors for four years.  Tropet's impressive resume also includes working for the YMCA, teaching school, and practicing real estate.

Tropet explained to The Neighborhood News that she has several goals for the South Seas House but her "main focus is to develop programs that I believe the community will genuinely benefit from."  In particular she hopes to add more cultural and fitness classes.  "I really believe I can tackle that."  Hitting the ground running, the Louisiana-native has already added free ballet/creative movement classes for ages 2 and up, piano lessons for age 5+, and violin classes through the LA Kids program.  

Currently Tropet is starting up a variety of fitness courses including women's self defense, martial arts, zumba, fitness boot camp, and a class for seniors age 55+.

Another objective is to more clearly communicate the connection between the South Seas House and Benny Potter Park.  In December Tropet organized the first annual holiday pancake breakfast.  The community feasted in the Park, then walked over to the adjacent SSH for a Santa Claus toy give-away.

The SSH is offering another free community program in the park on Saturday April 4th -- a Spring event with Easter Egg Hunt for ages 5-12, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, information booths, arts and crafts and a performance by the ballet students.  

A licensed child care center of the LA City Department of Recreation and Parks, the SSH will provide Summer Day Camp starting on June 8th and running for nine weeks. Registration for camp, which costs $80/week with a $10 registration fee, begins on Saturday May 30th.

The South Seas House is located at 2301 W. 24th Street, Los Angeles, phone (323) 373-9483. 

Photo by Dawn Kirkpatrick

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