Originally constructed in the 1920's to provide the City of Beverly Hills with recreational opportunities and soft water, La Cienega Park and Water Treatment Plant was designed as a passive park with large shrub beds, tree lined walkways and large open lawn areas. Yet over the next sixty years, the attitudes and needs of the community changed the need for the passive, open areas into organized sports and community group activities. Because each user group had established its own activity area within the park, major concerns and problems developed with safety, maintenance and appearance. In 1985, the landscape architectural firm of Heimberger/Hirsch & Associates, Inc. was commissioned by the city to design a cohesive master plan for the park that would meet the contemporary needs of the community.

The original Water Treatment Plant (abandoned by the City after it suffered severe damage during the 1972 Silmar earthquake) was leased to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which completely renovated the building to house the restored, refurbished and expanded Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archives. The reservoir and tennis facilities were demolished to make way for an 8,000 square-foot tennis center building, fifteen regulation tennis courts, and one championship court. With the exception of the existing community building, the original park was demolished and reconstructed to create a triangular-shaped recreational haven featuring: a large children's play area for residents and day care; a lighted regulation size baseball field; two lighted softball and little league fields; two lighted soccer fields, and an open lawn area with picnic tables and shade trees.

Under the guidance of Principal Patrick Hirsch, RLA, ASLA, rose and formal gardens, Bermuda turfgrass and historical palms grace the lawns of La Cienega Park. Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant material complements the site's very large, magnolia and pine "park trees." Future plans call for a pedestrian bridge to provide safe access over La Cienega Blvd. Winner of several awards, including the 1991 California Park and Recreation Society's Award of Excellence, the park and grounds have established a cohesive, and safe, alternative to recreation in Beverly Hills.