Planning Underway for Public Park at York and Ave. 50
Approximately 50 people showed up for a meeting regarding a proposed park at the corner of York Boulevard and Avenue 50.
It was standing room only inside 5010 York Blvd. on Thursday evening as community members participated in the early stages of planning for the possible construction of a public park at the vacant lot at the corner of York and Ave. 50.
The meeting was sponsored by Councilman Jose Huizar's office, a first step in the lengthy process of receiving public funds to revitalize and eventually build on the land.
“Two important steps to receiving the grant is brainstorming what you want in the park and then actually proposing what your priorities are,“ said Steve Rasmussen-Cancian. “We want to do both of those things tonight and then next Monday (June 27), we’re actually going to create and design the park together.”
The next planning meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 27 at 6 p.m. at 5010 York Blvd.
Rasmussen-Cancian, of Shared Spaces Landscape Architecture and Living Streets L.A., has been for the last six months coordinating a series of public meetings as part of Huizar's "new York" vision plan, a project aimed at catalyzing the ongoing business boom on York Boulevard.
According to Rasmussen-Cancian, the total cost of constructing the park will be in the area of $3.5 million.
About $5 million in California Proposition 84 Grant dollars are up for grabs to help pay for the construction of the park, but the application for funding is due by Friday, July 1.
“We’ll do an actual cost estimate of what will be required to build what the community wants and that’s the amount we will ask for,” Rasmussen said. “If it turns out to be five million dollars that’s what it is, but I expect it will be somewhat less and in fact, it’s more competitive the smaller it is."
Approximately 50 people showed up for the meeting, who shared a flurry of suggestions for what should be built in the proposed park.
Among the suggestions to receive the most votes were a playground, public bathrooms, trees, native landscaping, seating, basketball courts and exercise equipment.
“I got an e-mail from a friend saying they were planning on building a park and pretty much, I just wanted to get involved in the community and see how this project unravels,” said Hector Nava, a Highland Park resident who participated in the planning workshop.
Rasmussen-Cancian said the owner of the lot has agreed to sign a willing seller and lessor letter, and is willing to ground lease the land if the state approves the grant.
However, if the owner of the property receives another offer in the meantime, he is entitled to sell it if he so chooses.
If the grant is approved and the project moves forward, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks would own the land, according to Rasmussen-Cancian, but the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) would oversee the project from conception to the ribbon cutting.
“We’ll do project management throughout the construction portion of the project to make sure the community has input and oversight throughout the entire the design and implementation phases,” said LANI Director of Development Sian Liang.
“We work with community members to make sure the final product is reflective of what the community really needs,” she added.
Rasmussen-Cancian also added that the property still has significant environmental hazards and that his organization was currently in the data collection phase of an environmental study.
Janet Dodson of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council said the severely polluted lot, formerly home to Steve's Gas Station, has been remediated twice over the last decade or so and that each time the pollution has seeped back in.
She also said that she was surprised to hear that Rasmussen-Cancian was able to reach the owner of the property, as he has been elusive over the years.
Dodson said, “Planning the kinds of picnic tables you’re going to sit on the park seems to me to be a little early, but I think these two meetings are part of the grant process, they must do this in order to fulfill the grant, nothing would delight everybody more than to see that lot beautiful and useful in this city.”
anita acosta
9:26 am on Saturday, June 25, 2011
A beautiful park, trees, pet friendly, safe for residents and tourists to sit in some shade with their children . I observe many persons strolling along York Blvd whether window shopping or! Wow what a wonderful addition to our already up and coming York Blvd. As a business owner of La Vida Loca galeria 5050 York Blvd I would predict if we put in the park all merchants on the blvd will be more inspired to keep the area clean, safe and Viva York Blvd I say!!! Our store already does a weekly clean up (trash on ground etc.) as part of our support for keeping and making York Blvd more beautiful and community friendly. aaacosta
Josie Roth
9:51 am on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Public bathrooms requite a lot of maintenance. I would like to see a performance space so we can have some evening events like music and film screenings in the summer!
Sara
10:18 am on Saturday, June 25, 2011
I love the idea of paths, trees/shade, benches to sit and relax. A play area for kids. Water fountains, essential. A performance space is a great idea. Bathrooms do require maintenance, but are really great to have, especially if there is going to be a performance space and people will be there for extended periods of time. Think of the alternative.
I am strongly opposed to dogs off-leash, though dogs on-leash would be ok IF the owners clean up after them. A park like this should be for everyone, and if dogs are allowed off-leash, the park will quickly degenerate into a dangerous (especially for children) and unbelievably smelly place. Go to any off-leash dog park - every one of them absolutely reeks of urine and feces, they are totally unfit for human enjoyment. Included in the design of the park should be signage regarding clean-up of dog waste, and stations with bags that people can use. I've seen this method used at other parks and beaches.
Gaylord Hill
12:32 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Racks to lock down bikes. Water fountains. A area and screen to show evening movies and a program.
Cris25
1:47 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
I hope they put a Basketball court with light to play during the night! Basketball court! =D
Rosario
1:59 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Lots of great suggestions! Love hearing the enthusiasm on the betterment of the York Blvd. corridor.
Nimby pimp
4:32 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011
Yes to trees, gardens and basketball. No to dogs and toilets.
Kate
3:37 pm on Sunday, July 10, 2011
I would love for the park to have some nice benches for sitting, shade and maybe a small section for a community garden. For the most part, I would like the park to be a quiet and calm natural space with lots of trees and plants. Though I think recreational sports are important, it's such a small space, it might be best to keep it simple; there isn't anything like that in the area. Here is a space I've always loved in New York. It seems to serve the community very well: http://www.6bgarden.org/
Keeping my fingers crossed that this will go through. Would benefit our community so much!
Gma
11:47 pm on Tuesday, July 19, 2011
oh my god what a waste of money! you have all the parks surrounding the L.A. river and that's more than enough. I don't see anyone using them why waste money. If the people who live near this empty corner would like to volunteer their time and money to fix this little park for the homeless because you know that's who is going to end up living there. Lets have everyone who works in construction level and grade the land. Anyone interested in planting flowers should donate that and plant them. The construction workers could build benches out of donated lumber for those who wish to sit. Wouldn't it be easier just to drive or walk to the parks that we already have?????? Don't think of ways to spend money on something already in place. Maybe we should show the map of surrounding parkways maybe they don't even know they exist?! why don't you do that.
Josie Roth
6:24 am on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Good point but it is polluted from the gas station that was there so uses are limited. At least aesthetically it will add to tha area and keep density down.
Joe Sean
1:37 am on Sunday, August 21, 2011
The corner space is quite small, but I do welcome the new pocket park. To my knowledge there isn't that much green space around this part of Highland Park. Most parks are concentrated along or near the Arroyo Seco. Ideally, I hope it becomes a small square for performance arts, small grass area to sit, winding paths, a small fountain, chess tables, kids playground, and beautiful small trees like a Japanese maple trees or something with amazing color like bougainvillea plants.