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City Pursues Arts District Park Space

By Eric Richardson
Published: Sunday, May 13, 2007, at 07:13PM

Eric Richardson [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Way back in November of 2005 I noted a motion directing the City's General Services Department to look for possible park sites in the Arts District. After first saying in February of 2006 that it couldn't find anything, GSD turned in a June report indicating possible sites for a pocket park.

Just this month Jan Perry made a motion (PDF) that the City make an offer to purchase 735 E. 3rd street, the triangular plot where Traction, 3rd and Rose come together. Formerly a gas station, there aren't too many uses that could be squeezed into the site's 4,000 square feet. It would seem that a small park would be a great outcome for an odd parcel like this one. Given a little grass and a tree or two, this would make a great western edge to the scene on Traction.

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Conversation

Guest 1

Whitman Lam on May 13, 2007, at 07:28PM – #1

Wow, it's about time !! The sidwalks can use the relief as doggy restrooms. This is a good sign. The Arts district is finally recognized as a true residential neighborhood instead of the industrial hub it once was.

Here's hoping for more parks and greenspace in the concrete desert.

Guest 1

Timothy Quinn on May 13, 2007, at 09:54PM – #2

Let's put some underground parking and a big purple tower there.

and some police tape . . .

Guest 1

David Kennedy on May 13, 2007, at 10:07PM – #3

Don't forget to add dysfunctional social policy and turn a blind eye to enforcement of public order.

Guest 1

Ed Fuentes on May 13, 2007, at 11:43PM – #4

...or a small baseball park.

Guest 1

Joel C on May 14, 2007, at 09:09AM – #5

It's great that the idea of creating parks is moving from talk to action. I think this is an interesting little spot for a park. I just hope they can keep it from becoming a homeless encampment.

Guest 1

Whitman Lam on May 14, 2007, at 10:10AM – #6

I think the small size can work to it's advantage.

It's not large enough to require a huge public investment or too much political scrutiny. Located on a busy intersection, with no privacy, that could help deter crime or homeless encampments.

It's barely big enough to fit all the basics: trees, flowers, shrubs, a park bench or two, and a small water fountain or art sculpture piece.

Even a fourth grader can design this pocket park. Which is why we need more like it...

Guest 1

Ted on May 14, 2007, at 10:13AM – #7

Joel's concern is a real one. Angel's Knoll park is very pleasant in the early morning or late evening, but on a nice, warm day, when it should be filled with couples and families, it's mostly just homeless folks sprawled on the grass all over the place.

Given the vigorous ACLU homeless advocacy, is there any hope of taking back the downtown parks, so that the non-homeless people who live and work there can enjoy them?

Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on May 14, 2007, at 11:05AM – #8

Angels Knoll is different, though, in that its location on the hillside -- and off of a fairly non-pedestrian stretch of Olive -- creates isolation. There's no normal flow of activity that views into the park, and no way to travel across the park getting from one place to another.

Guest 1