The forgotten story of Santa Monica’s Great Park

Michael Brodsky, professor emeritus at Loyola Marymount University, provides a detailed historical overview of the land’s transformation. He traces the site’s history from the Tongva people through Spanish colonial settlement, subsequent American subdivision, and eventual land transfers. In the 1920s, as Santa Monica was expanding, civic leaders saw an opportunity both economic and recreational. They proposed purchasing Clover Field, driven by the developing Douglas factory and the need for public recreation.