Playa del Rey residents push to prevent SoCalGas from selling unofficial community park

PLAYA DEL REY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A lot has changed in this Playa del Rey community - and residents are finding out there may be more changes coming soon.

They received notices from SoCalGas saying several empty lots in the neighborhood are being sold, including a beloved greenspace that neighbors have dubbed "Keith Park."

"My daughter has had her birthday like every year here and we've had great communication with the gas company, and they've allowed us to do some of that," said Curt Toppel, who lives next to Keith Park. "We just really find it to be a just a place where the community can come together and really get to know each other."

Residents say the space has served as a central hub of sorts - a place that serves as a community dog park, a place to gather for birthdays and other events. Some residents say losing the park would be devastating, and some have mixed feelings.

"I look out and I see so many dogs jumping and playing with toys, I see kids having fun, I see people getting together with parties here and it's beautiful," said Johnny Herzberg, who has lived across the street from the park for 27 years. "And the gas company has maintained it very well. I just don't want to see it go."

"It's fun for the people, but yet you have to stop and think, you can't hold progress back either," said Alice Kranz, a 50-year-resident to the neighborhood.

Toppel says SoCalGas has been a great neighbor and is communicating with the company to try and find a solution.

In a statement, SoCalGas said the utility company "remains committed to engaging with the community and is open to a dialogue with community members."

"Ideally, I know they're trying to sell it, they have every right to, but ideally, maybe the city, maybe the state could step in or another organization or group of some sort that could help to make sure that this stays a greenspace," Toppel said. "It could be a dedicated area in some way, that would be amazing."

Meanwhile, Toppel says the clock is ticking. Oct. 17 is the deadline for bids to be submitted on the land.