Come Walk Elysian Park... Then Ride Elysian Park

By Eric Richardson
Published: Friday, January 26, 2007, at 12:25PM

Eric Richardson

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I swear, I’m going to get people Downtown to come check out Elysian Park just by overwhelming you with posts about it (see here).

Tomorrow morning Scott Fajack (a member of the blogdowntown flickr pool) leads the Echo Park Historical Society’s monthly Elysian Park walking tour, focusing on the park’s eastern edge (the Broadway side). I’ve explored this part of the park, but only on a bike, so I’m excited to take a walk and check things out in more depth. The walk starts at 10am, and EPHS requests a $5 donation. Reservations are “required”, but Scott assures me no one who shows up will be turned away.

The very next day the IAAL-MAF hosts its third invitational, the No Surrender Monkeys ride. It leaves Brite Spot in Echo Park at 3pm, winding through Angelino Heights, Bunker Hill and Elysian Park. Yes, there will be hills, but this ride is worth every one of them.

Comments

Ankur writes:

I'm game for the monkey ride!

# on Jan.26.2007 AT 04:37 PM

David Kennedy writes:

I think your efforts to promote Elysian Park are very worthwhile. I agree Elysian Park is a wonderful place. Commanding views. Plenty of trails to hike and explore. Some impressive baseball fields and playgrounds. Loads of places for picnicing and carne asada. Oh yeah, and Dodger Stadium, too. I suspect it will only get better when the Cornfields is fully developed as a park.

I think the low awareness of the Elysian Park by downtowners is pretty typical. Most of us are very busy and quickly develop a personal geography which defines our neighborhood. Soon enough, there are places we pass by without a thought. I try to fight this and often pretend to be the tourist. When was the last time you visited Pico-Union, Koreatown, the Central Library, the Fashion District, Chinatown, Highland Park? Each of these places is worthy of discovery in some way. Los Angeles is very rewarding that way.

One thing which I think would be great is if the fabled downtown trolley of the future actually extended to parks like the Cornfields and Elysian Park. Otherwise, these places remain typical L.A. drive-in/drive-out destinations.

# on Jan.27.2007 AT 08:15 AM

shannon writes:

i would have joined in but i was leading a tour of my own through the streets of Downtown this morning. i have april 21st penciled in for the next one and the link bookmarked.

thank you!

# on Jan.27.2007 AT 04:57 PM

Tim Fasano writes:

Beautiful picture but being from Tampa Florida is the air fit to breath. I mean no disrespect but that is an awsome picture with only a little haze. I am a photographer and that is good work.

# on Jan.30.2007 AT 03:03 PM

Eric Richardson writes:

Tim: People seem to not fall over and die too often, so I don't think the air's all too bad for your health (though a new study shows you don't want to live next to the freeway).

The day I went up to take those shots was extra clear thanks to the wind direction. It was a great evening to be taking pictures.

# on Jan.30.2007 AT 03:48 PM