Downtown Urban Park Plans Miss the Mark
Re “Urban Core Plan Gains,” Sept. 11: For years, city leaders and local developers have tried to revive downtown. I’ve watched with interest, yet downtown today remains much what it was 20 years ago: a place to leave at 5 p.m. and to avoid on the weekends. Spending $1.2 billion for a downtown park, especially when the funding for this project remains a “mystery” seems idiotic. The article states that this project will “boost area nightlife.” Great. But we already have vibrant nightlife downtown -- drug addicts, drunks and the homeless.
Griffith Park has hiking, biking and equestrian trails, a golf course, a zoo, an observatory and the Greek Theatre. How about promoting Griffith Park for what it is -- a huge and beautiful green space begging to be used? Or, here’s an idea: How about small “pocket parks” all around the city? Maybe in neighborhoods where people live? When people want to get outside, they’re not going to drive downtown and pay $12 to park underground just to feel the joy of sitting in the shadow of City Hall.
Judy Hyler
Los Angeles
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.