Reminder: Where Would You Put Play Space Downtown?
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Just a reminder that you have one week left to submit your ideas for where we should have play space Downtown. As I said last week:
Why does Downtown not have a couple spots where you can go and shoot a basketball without having to pony up for the YMCA or Athletic Club? Could a redesigned Pershing Square include a couple of baskets? Could one of Downtown's tiny surface parking lots be converted into a court?
What are Downtown spots you think should be set up for recreation? Submit your ideas in the comments for a chance to win a pair of Nike Air Zoom RS+ shoes.
There have been a couple of good suggestions in the comments, but I'd really like to see more people put some thought into this. This week the Downtown News asks just what has happened to Downtown's Quimby fees, the cash collected from developers that's supposed to go to park space. Assuming Rec & Parks hasn't simply lost that money, where should it be going Downtown?
The deadline for being eligible to win the shoes is next Monday at noon. See the original post for full details.
Urban Bruin on September 17, 2007, at 12:11PM – #1
I know lots of people at the Metro Lofts take their dogs there for walks through the entrance off Grand Ave. It would be great to have it landscaped as a public park (think of the great views) and a dog run.
Grassy slope on the northeast corner of 2nd and Hope. Not the most accessible area of downtown and the parking would be hell but it’s a open space that is currently underutilized.
Redoing Pershing Square
John Crandell on September 17, 2007, at 12:39PM – #2
Pershing Square, May 1986: I and a co-worker are surveying the place preparing to work up an entry to that year's design competition. Gang warfare breaks out. Knives, crowbars and ax handles are wielded; the air is split by yelling, screaming and flying trash cans. A motorcycle cop drives by along Sixth, takes one look and accelerates towards the jewelry district. Co-worker makes a big mistake and decides to use his camera to record the event and the combatants don't like that. We run our asses off and don't stop till we get to ARCO Plaza. Setting up hoops would ignite a contest over who's turf the plac is. Once upon a time there were tennis courts atop the north end of the World Trade Center, but who would want to play thirty feet above and removed from whatever street scene? Well why not do up a designer basketball court across the street from Staples. Put it right at the northwest corner of 11th and Fig. Make it part of the open space element of L.A. Live! Have Thom Mayne lay it out in stainless steel and charcoal grey chain link. And there'd be naming rights of course, which would pay for all of it, right in the heart of the Gold Coast.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on September 17, 2007, at 01:09PM – #3
John: The courts atop the World Trade Center are still there, and are now run by the YMCA.
I had a similar thought about courts next to Staples. I think that would be a huge idea.
Rico A on September 17, 2007, at 02:04PM – #4
Wow, that Staples Center idea is great.
I don't want to make it seem like I'm advocating putting recreation out of the way (as it's at the very eastern edge of Downtown), but there are a few contiguous, unused lots on Commercial Street, both on the north and south sides.
I was trying to think of what else would be good for those parcels, and I couldn't think of anything but recreation. Some active use like basketball and a rec/youth center would be perfect.
As it is now, it's attracting tent encampments.
That's my input, anyway!
Rico A on September 17, 2007, at 02:12PM – #5
By the way, this is a relatively recent satellite shot of the parcel I'm referring to. It looks a mess in that shot because of the reconfiguration of the on- and offramps, but it's a large city-owned lot with nothing happening on it.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pp7y1g54dj9k&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=6954206&encType=1
Whitman Lam on September 17, 2007, at 04:24PM – #6
That empty lot next to Sci Arc in the Arts District would make an excellent park.
If nobody is using it right now, they should turn it into an interim park, dog park, playground... etc.
A neighborhood park might finally make the Art's District livable.
James on September 17, 2007, at 04:32PM – #7
The many surface parking lots still littered around South Park would be a great place for a park, basketball courts, or new community gathering place. With all of the planned ground up lofts being built around the Staples Center, I am surprised that there hasn't been more talk about how to increase the green space in the area. As a resident of Elleven, I know the developer, South Group has had problems trying to acquire the brick building which fronts Hope just south of Luma. South Group was planning on making a small pocket park in that space along with an automobile entranceway. There are numerous small parking lots within one block which will be in the midst of many new lofts that should be acquired and set aside for this purpose before they are snatched up and turned into more high density housing. I don't know who owns all of these lots, but some of them include...the small lot on the NW corner of Grand and Elleven, SW corner of Hope and 12th, big parking lots on the north and south sides of 12th between Grand and Olive, or the dilapidated old building on the NE corner of Hope and 12th. I'm also hoping that the new lofts being built on the North and South sides of 12th between Fig and Flower will have more green space. I'm mainly concerned that with the huge rush to put up new lofts in this area, land won't be set aside for parks and such. This must be a city mandated movement and may have to be acquired by eminent domain. With land prices the way they are, these parks will not get built unless the city has the foresight and urban planning intelligence to make these spaces a reality. Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront!
Ed Fuentes on September 17, 2007, at 05:20PM – #8
Lam,
Land owner of that particular lot has been asked before to consider making it an interim anything. Not going for it.
At Alameda and 1st, RFD's are being requested for a developer to purchase and build a project that is sensitive to the parking, housing and commercial needs to the communities of Little Tokyo, and the Arts District.
Along with being adjacent to the Gold Line; basketball courts would look good next to what the City of LA is referring to as "Art Park."
nirad on September 17, 2007, at 06:20PM – #9
Like James said, the city needs to act soon to grab some of those open lots before they get developed. I actually think this is a more pressing issue in the historic core, where older buildings and a lack of street-widening makes the streets and sidewalks very dense and dark by contemporary standards. though they may be unsightly, those open lots keep a lot of areas of downtown from seeming too dark and crowded. let's turn them into parks before they become high-rises.
jeff on September 17, 2007, at 09:23PM – #10
If anyone is looking for someone to cycle around Downtown with, I ride around pretty much every day...north south east west...maybe i'll start a downtown bicycle club if there isn't one.
jeff.wax@gmail.com
Hec on September 18, 2007, at 10:11AM – #11
Let's shoot hoops at The Court of Flags!
edgycated on September 18, 2007, at 04:21PM – #12
there was a cool little parking lot just south of the One Wilshire building (Grand and Wilshire) that would've been perfect for LA's version of Rucker Park, but its now occupied by these large generator looking things... maybe a backup power supply for the telecom hubs in the building? Anyways, let's get rid of them and put in a cage for some street ball!
and btw kudos to the nike people for a great event this year. it looked like traffic got a little mucked up on all streets along Fig, but just as bad as a SC game. there was also a glitch with the race timing system, but I guess it doesn't really matter when you run a 12+ min mile...