Making Do with what Downtown Offers
Ed Fuentes
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Skateboarders at the footprint of the old, old State Building took some time practicing their skills over the weekend, and while accessing the site isn't legal, you have give some credit to the group for finding recreation space where little exists Downtown.
With all the talk about Quimby funds for parks, and the anticipation that residents will someday have families––you also have to plan for recreation space beyond pocket parks if you expect residents to consider downtown "the place" for long term residency. As we recently discussed, Downtown doesn't have many spots to shoot a basketball or (legally) do some skating.
Maybe Parks and Rec should look inward for its next Quimby expenditure and negotiate the purchase of this old footprint. No expensive work need be done -- just clean it up and let Downtowners enjoy the history of an old part of government.
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David Kennedy on November 14, 2007, at 12:22PM – #1
Great idea and seemingly a no-brainer, too. I recall in the past when this suggestion has been made, the apparent problem is once a piece of land is converted to a park, it is very difficult to convert it to another use. So city officials are loath to do this. I have no idea if this is true or not.
Your suggestion makes so much sense, you'd think it would have been implemented long ago. This lends credence to the idea it isn't that simple. I hope I'm wrong.
Urban Bruin on November 14, 2007, at 12:36PM – #2
Funny thing about common sense: it’s easier to recognize than to have. If you look at the various plans for the Grand Avenue Park you’ll notice that this lot is owned by the state and is NOT part of any deal that the City, County and the Grand Ave., project group agreed upon for the “Great Park”. So, without more, we could have a situation where this piece of history “eye sore”, would remain adjacent to a new park.
But to be an optimist, maybe the City and the State can work together like they did with the new Chinatown Park and co-own and operate this piece of land as a city/state park.
Rico A on November 14, 2007, at 01:13PM – #3
I wholeheartedly agree. With all the plans for pocket parks, we forget the needs of the more active among us, including the kids.
The Cornfield will have some active uses, as well as Vista Hermosa Park, which is great, but why not turn the Old State Building into an actual skate park? Skaters love to hang out there anyway, among other places (the Chinatown Lofts' industrial docking bay being another favorite spot).
It might even be feasible to incorporate the old foundation as part of it, to preserve our history and give the kids a place to skate.
NS on November 14, 2007, at 01:48PM – #4
Preserving history while creating a skate park--melding the very old with the new, young, and hip. Isn't that the L.A. ideal? And right in front of City Hall too? Wow, that would be pretty cool..!
Or they could just leave it there as an ugly abandoned piece of land covered in weeds sprouting from a crumbling foundation of a former building. Again--RIGHT in front of City Hall.
What exactly do these politicians of ours want people to think of when they see this city?