AskDowntown: How Would You Prioritize Parks?
Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —
AskDowntown is a weekly Friday feature where we pass your questions on to the Downtown crowd. Got a question? Send it to ask@blogdowntown.com.
Parks are a favorite topic here at blogdowntown, and it wasn't too long ago that we asked where to put some spaces for play. The city's Department of Recreation and Parks is currently holding a Citywide Parks Needs Assessment with workshops in recreation centers around the city. This Wednesday the show comes Downtown, with a 6:30pm session in the DWP cafeteria (111 N. Hope).
You may have ideas about green space or how to use a vacant lot. Is a dog park a need over a place for kids? Should Pershing Square invest in more summer concerts or mount theater productions?
Forget about Qumby funds for a moment, and tap into your personal wisdom to talk about ideas. If you are unable to attend the workshop Jan 30, there's a survey you can fill out on the site.
So with that, this week's AskDowntown question: When it comes to park and green space, what does Downtown need?
Pictured: 2nd District Councilmember Wendy Gruel at the Pershing Square Ice Rink on Dec 21, 2007.
Juanito Crandello on January 26, 2008, at 03:38AM – #1
Find the biggest dang Sycamore (Aliso) that can possibly be moved. Box it out and truck it on down to where the Council Tree grew, across the freeway from Union Station. Plant it with some grass around it. Sort of back to the future, ya know? Shut down the freeway for a couple of hours so people can run and ride bikes on it - cause that's where YAAngna was located. (Yes, YAAngna). Get the Philharmonic out there too, to play the New World Symphony - when the big tree arrives.
Heere's Johny! on January 26, 2008, at 04:19AM – #2
Build a replica of the Wolfskill Adobe where the original stood at the northwest corner of Fourth and Alameda. Rip up all that asphalt and surround it with fruit trees and grape vines. For it was Wolfskill who commanded one of the earliest wagon trains from Franklin in Missouri Territory, headed to Taos. And on board was an 18 year old Christopher 'Kit' Carson, running away forever from his mother and siblings. In the Taos pueblo, Workman and Wolfskill operated an outfitters shop and employed Carson as a cook. After Wolfskill emigrated to Los Angeles and established his ranch, Carson most likely stopped to visit and overnight with his old friend whenever he was in L.A. We should put up a statue of both of them; wouldn't that make the hip westsiders snort.... And play Stravinsky when the bronzes are unveiled. They'd REALLY have a cow about that! Rite of Spring? And oh what I could tell them about Ms. Carson. They'd howl all night long.
Matt on January 26, 2008, at 09:03AM – #3
I think that the city should use its power of eminent domain more aggressively to transform parking lots into parks. As the city grows more dense, the value of lots increases. The amount of money wasted by buying land with a building on it, tearing the building down, and replacing it with a park it much higher than starting with an undeveloped piece of land like a parking lot. Parks last for 100s of years. Lets invest in a greener future by buying 1/20 of the downtown space devoted to parking lots and replacing it with green space.
George on January 27, 2008, at 10:20PM – #4
A nice park in the parking lot across the street from my loft would be great....I don't want to lose my view!!!
meekorouse on January 30, 2008, at 12:05AM – #5
ok losing parking to parks is a good start. Downtowners need to learn to breath air and walk the dog and take the bus.. maybe you can't get everywhere without a car but there's plenty of places you don't need a car downtown.
Also, what about all these dogs the loft dwelling folks have? They've been encouraged by the BIDs to bring their dogs to live with them.. LA IS DOG FRIENDLY??
well let's show it by getting some dog runs or some dog parks too??
Any other ideas??