A mingling of generations graces Sunset Park

"This is still the place to go if you want to live in a residential neighborhood, raise kids and have a dog in the backyard. A mix of older and younger families, people take care of each other, with watchful neighbors enhancing safety."

"Called the last 'Ozzie and Harriet' area on the Westside, Santa Monica's Sunset Park is a place where retirees live next to young families and neighbors gather at block parties, the parks or the shops along Ocean Park Boulevard."

"The beach drew the earliest settlers to Santa Monica, but Douglas Aircraft brought 40,000 factory workers to Sunset Park in the 1940s, when most of the homes were built. Today's newcomers are more likely to be a professional couple with young children, attracted to the well-regarded schools and Riviera climate."

Sunset Park, located in Santa Monica between Pico and Lincoln boulevards, is characterized as a traditional family neighborhood housing approximately 29,000 residents, or about one-third of Santa Monica's population. The area developed significantly in the 1940s when Douglas Aircraft brought 40,000 factory workers to the region. Today, the neighborhood attracts professional couples with young children seeking quality schools and a Mediterranean climate. The community features strong neighborhood cohesion, with residents gathering at block parties, parks, and shops along Ocean Park Boulevard. Recreation centers include Clover Park and Marine Park, with beach access nearby. Many residents benefit from short commutes to local employment at major corporations and think tanks, with few commuting beyond downtown Los Angeles.

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