Leimert Plaza Park Is Reopened After 1-Year, $677,000 Renovation

Imagine a national center of black culture and activism, another Third Street Promenade, and a place for children to run and play and adults to share a meal and read the paper--all rolled into one.

Such are the dreams for newly rededicated Leimert Plaza Park. Until it was closed for $677,000 in renovations one year ago, the one-acre patch of grass and concrete was the most heavily used park in Los Angeles and a center of political and cultural activism. On Thursday, the 70-year-old landmark was freed from its screen of fencing, and the community flooded back in.

“This is beautiful,” said restaurant owner Foster Philips, beaming at the freshly planted grass and flowers, gleaming new picnic tables and functional restrooms. “It’s like night and day compared to what it was. The community needs this.”

But even as Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas cut a ceremonial ribbon and watched as spiritual leaders from Ghana blessed the park, some were grumbling.

Some, such as Akile, an activist who organizes a Kwanzaa festival at the park, are upset that some gnarled but beloved trees were cut down. The trees, some of which were dying, had provided shade.

Other activists say that the reopening of the park has rekindled a long-simmering conflict between organizers of the park’s popular festivals and the 90 or so merchants whose vibrant shops ring the park. The merchants object to the outside vendors who come with the festivals.

Festival organizers and community activists say the park, and its Malcolm X Festival, Kwanzaa Festival and Jazz Festival, have nurtured a modern Harlem Renaissance in the area. They want to make sure the festivals continue to be huge community events.

On Thursday both merchants and festival organizers agreed on at least one thing: They are happy that the park is open again.

“Leimert Park adds to the essence . . . the culture . . . the meaning . . . and the diversity . . . of the city of L.A.,” said Ridley-Thomas. “This is a wonderful day.”

He added that the revitalization of the park is the first of many projects, including building new parking structures, making buildings look prettier and the reopening of the Vision Theater across the street from the park.

Designed in 1928 to be the centerpiece of the planned community of Leimert Park Village, the park became a center of black culture starting in the 1960s.

Art festivals, community celebrations, and people climbing on chairs to give rousing calls to arms for various political causes became common. A corner of the park has even been designated an official space for free speech.

“I remember the moment that Geronimo Pratt made a speech to 10,000 people in this park,” said Queen Negus Somayah Kambui, a former Black Panther who now works for the use of marijuana for medical reasons. “Can you imagine 10,000 people in this space?”

“This is the beginning of the Leimert Park Renaissance,” said Najee Ali, an activist whose office is across the street from the park.