(Photo by William Kidsten)

Alfred Fraijo, Jr., president Friends of Hollywood Central Park (FHCP); Philip Aarons, chairman of FHCP; honoree Michael LoGrande, city planning department; Laurie Goldman, executive director, FHCP; honoree Dixon Slingerland, executive director of the Youth Policy Institute; honoree Gail Goldberg, executive director of ULI-Los Angeles; and honoree Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, District 13, share a moment at the For the Love of Hollywood gala benefit held Jan. 8 at the Hollywood Palladium.

The evening included a reception followed by dinner and program and an after party from.

According to FHCP members, Hollywood Central Park is an infrastructure project that will create more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs over 10 years, provide economic stimulus and long term economic security, provide healthy communities and provide children with open green space in which to grow and thrive.

The Hollywood Central Park will transform Hollywood’s disadvantaged communities into thriving economic engines and is an investment in our children, our community and our future, members added.

FHCP was formed to raise funds to create a new park in Hollywood, one of the most dense and green space starved neighborhoods in Los Angeles, by covering a portion of the Hollywood (101) Freeway with a 38-acre street level community park.