Vista Hermosa
While we wait to see what will come of the plans for what would be LA's largest urban park, let's not overlook a smaller but no less applauded effort at turning would-be parking lots into parks:
Vista Hermosa opened a little over a month ago in a neighborhood just east of downtown LA. Situated in a densely urban spot that had once been oil fields and more recently had turned into a barren dirt lot, it is downtown's first new park since 1895. A rolling 10 acres of hills, streams, trails, meadows, picnic grounds, a soccer field and an outdoor amphitheater, the park has already become a destination for local families, joggers and flaneurs. A largely low-income neighborhood, the park is a safe space for people to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Of course designating green space in LA is one thing and having the water to keep it green is another. In Los Angeles where the Mayor just announced more water restrictions, Vista Hermosa won't be drawing much from the reservoir. Instead native plants fill most of the park and for the grass in the meadow and soccer fields, permeable parking lots allow water to be gathered and in a 20,000 cistern to be recycled as irrigation.
In a city that is known for it's blend of city and nature, LA has less green space than any other major city and especially in low-income neighborhoods. Villa Hermosa fills a need for green space downtown and will hopefully be a gateway for even more green.
Image from sowellman flickr
Vista Hermosa opened a little over a month ago in a neighborhood just east of downtown LA. Situated in a densely urban spot that had once been oil fields and more recently had turned into a barren dirt lot, it is downtown's first new park since 1895. A rolling 10 acres of hills, streams, trails, meadows, picnic grounds, a soccer field and an outdoor amphitheater, the park has already become a destination for local families, joggers and flaneurs. A largely low-income neighborhood, the park is a safe space for people to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Of course designating green space in LA is one thing and having the water to keep it green is another. In Los Angeles where the Mayor just announced more water restrictions, Vista Hermosa won't be drawing much from the reservoir. Instead native plants fill most of the park and for the grass in the meadow and soccer fields, permeable parking lots allow water to be gathered and in a 20,000 cistern to be recycled as irrigation.
In a city that is known for it's blend of city and nature, LA has less green space than any other major city and especially in low-income neighborhoods. Villa Hermosa fills a need for green space downtown and will hopefully be a gateway for even more green.
Image from sowellman flickr
Posted by: Laure Joliet on Aug 19, 08 at 03:00 PM PDT
