Oases Where They’re Needed

That Los Angeles has a fraction of the park space of other cities, given our population, is a sorry fact. The dearth of quiet, green space is most acute in the poor neighborhoods of South-Central L.A., which has just a quarter or a fifth the parkland per capita of the Westside or San Fernando Valley, places to chase a ball or watch the clouds roll by. New plans by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department to create so-called pocket parks on vacant land cannot close the gap, but they should provide a few more badly needed oases in grittier parts of town.

Using $3.5 million raised by two park bonds passed in 1996, city officials intend to buy at least seven new park sites in the South-Central, Hollywood and downtown areas. Neglected lots, each no more than an acre and many filled with weeds and broken glass, can become valued community assets. With a few picnic tables, playground equipment, some grass and trees, an eyesore can become a neighborhood treasure.

These pocket parks could also spark a new spirit of local involvement. Park bonds will not pay for extra staff, so until city budgets catch up, park officials will rely on neighbors and park users to keep an eye on these valuable bits of open space.

The European tradition of little parks, sometimes just a few benches set amid flower beds and trees, has flourished in East Coast cities. Here in Los Angeles, the Trust for Public Land and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy are working to create green spaces bordering the Los Angeles River. The Elysian Valley Gateway Park, a high-falutin name for a tiny spot at the end of a residential street, first opened in 1995 and with its picnic table, benches and grass brought a touch of serenity to a crowded community. The city’s expanding program of mini-parks will give other neighborhoods a chance to smell the roses.