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Health & Fitness

Patch Blog: Changing Los Angeles--A Truly Highland Park Design

The proposed bench for the little "parklet" at the hardware store crosswalk on York Blvd. has a dream behind it.

As usual our clear-eyed Patch editor outlined perfectly the information about the proposed street porch on York Blvd., and the proposed designs up for a community vote due Nov 2.

This project was begun almost a year ago, and has had a long road to get to this point, with many delays along the way.

The curvy version of the little bench proposed was an original design presented to the York Vision working group, discussed, and approved. See Alternative A

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The rectilinear version is a latecomer. See Alternative B 

The curvy version, Alternative A, grew out of a hoped-for improvement of the unpleasant daunting alley next to the hardware store on York, not part of the York Vision Plan. This narrow alley provides access to an underused parking lot behind the hardware store. It currently has a large bold mural, is dark at night, and has a highly uninviting stench.

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 A design proposal for the “Arroyo Alley” has been circulating Highland Park for a few months. What if there were paintings in the alley depicting a scene from our Arroyo Seco, trees, birds, and arroyo plantings? There could be painted arroyo rocks and a painted little stream on the ground. It could feel as though you were strolling through a green river pathway, taking a short detour through our beautiful arroyo on your way to York Boulevard. The painted arroyo would then ”spill” out onto the sidewalk, leading onto the softly rounded bench by the curb, with actual arroyo stones, a restful spot by the river. Better lighting, and a re-engineering of the drainage of the alley floor would facilitate easier and certainly more frequent cleaning.

The plan will take some effort, and creative funding. The bench design was intended to connect to the arroyo theme. The charming curvilinear seating will be uninviting for sleeping, and also provide different conversation groupings. There was some thought about adding a small game table. Until the Arroyo Alley materializes, this roundy curving bench with built-in planters is much more Highland Park and certainly more interesting than just a set of rectangles.

It has my vote.

You can vote at: livingstreetsla@gmail.com

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