"Elysian Park is their Playground": How Grace Simons Saved One of L.A. s Oldest Parks
07/12/2016
So when in March 1965 the L.A. City Council approved a plan to build a convention center and exhibition hall on 63 acres of Elysian Park - and not just any 63 acres, but the park's most popular valley and picnic grounds near the Avenue of the Palms - Simons found it simply unacceptable that the Council viewed park space as merely [land] in storage' to be used for other purposes at the whim of city officials. [1] Although she had been a lifelong political activist, conservation was a new issue for her - but one important enough to spring her into action. To Simons, this beloved park was irreplaceable.
Photograph of Elysian Park, showing area that would have be destroyed by the convention center, including the historic Avenue of the Palms. Photo by Julius Shulman, courtesy of the USC Libraries - Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park records.
The proposal's timing seemed perverse, given that it came less than a year after the California state legislature allocated over $4 million to L.A. County for acquisition and improvement of public parks under the 1964 California Park Bond Act. In response to the legislation, the City Council's Recreation and Parks Committee outlined a strategy for creating new parks and improving older ones, a necessity in a park-poor city with a rapidly increasing population. These facts made it all the more perplexing that the City Council and Mayor Sam Yorty would endorse a proposal to destroy 63 acres of prime parkland.
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSend EmailMoreCommentPin on PinterestShare on LinkedInShare on Google+
--
--
The proposed convention center's design offered very little in the way of architectural innovation. Yet a convention center would have made a stunning impact on the Elysian Park landscape. If the project had followed through with promised upgrades to the park's design and facilities, the park might have become more widely used by L.A. residents. More likely, however, is that the destruction to the park's landscaped picnic areas and increased traffic would have had a detrimental effect on park users and nearby neighbors. Any future expansion of the convention center would have further eroded parklands and exacerbated traffic congestion.
Convention Center advocate Neil Petree, architect Charles Luckman, and Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty with a model of the proposed development in 1966. Photo courtesy of the Herald-Examiner Collection - Los Angeles Public Library.
A model of the proposed Elysian Park Convention Center. Photo courtesy of the Herald-Examiner Collection - Los Angeles Public Library.
Another view of the model. Photo courtesy of the Herald-Examiner Collection - Los Angeles Public Library.
Prior to 1965, Elysian park's status as city-owned property left it vulnerable time and again to municipal officials seeking free land for specific projects.
Elysian Park is located just outside downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the 5 and 110 freeways. The park hugs Dodger Stadium on three sides, and both the 110 freeway and the Stadium Way thoroughfare run directly through the park. The park's 575 acres boast landscaped picnic and recreational spaces, steep hills, rocky terrain, deep ravines, and overgrown hiking paths, as well as stunning views of the Los Angeles basin.[2] Founded in 1886, Elysian Park was protected by the 1925 city charter, which guaranteed all designated parkland would remain in perpetual public use. [3] But the park has been plagued by neglect and underuse, aggravated by inconsistent funding and public policy that prioritized playgrounds and recreation over tranquil landscaping.[4] Prior to 1965, Elysian park's status as city-owned property left it vulnerable time and again to municipal officials seeking free land for specific projects in order to minimize fiscal impact.[5]
After World War II, encroachment on public parkland was aided by federal urban renewal policies that sanctioned condemnation if the land was needed for a public purpose such as highway construction. Elysian Park was one of many L.A. parks that lost acreage to highway construction, which brought air and noise pollution uncomfortably close active recreation areas.[6] Elysian Park also lost roughly 30 acres to Dodger Stadium, which reinforced the view that park space was merely undeveloped land that could be successfully appropriated by the city for non-park purposes. The adverse effects of the stadium's construction included damage to Elysian Park's irrigation system and the development of six-lane Stadium Way drive, which brought high-speed traffic through the park's most popular valley.[7] Despite the challenges posed by traffic and neglect, residents from nearby Latino and Asian communities continued to heavily patronize the park.
A 2009 view of Elysian Park, by the author.
Plan of proposed improvements to Elysian Park, 1966, from the Marvin Braude Papers, F: Elysian Park, Los Angeles City Archives.
Elysian Park was targeted as an attractive location for the convention center, in part, because it was seen as less expensive than other options. The City Council set a $10 million limit for the project. Because Elysian Park was municipally owned, it would save the city from land acquisition expenses and costly eminent domain proceedings needed at other potential sites.[8] Surprisingly, the city's
LINK: | https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/elysian-park-is-their-playground-ho... |
See more stories from kcet |
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet Appoints Santiago Solanas as CEO to Lead Next Era of Growth and Innovation
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
20/05/2024
The Vampire Next Door Created with Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and DaVinci Resolve
The Vampire Next Door Created with Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and DaVinci Resolve Brie Clayton May 20, 2024 0 Comments Blackmagic Design today announced ...
20/05/2024
Tom Wills To Retire After Nearly 50 Years at WJXT Jacksonville
Tom Wills, long-running anchor at WJXT Jacksonville, Florida, has announced his retirement. He started at WJXT in 1975 and has anchored early-evening news for o...
20/05/2024
AMC Networks Promotes Emily Gotto to Senior VP at Shudder
AMC Networks said it promoted Emily Gotto to senior VP of acquisition and production for Shudder, the company's horror-themed streaming service....
20/05/2024
Paramount Names Jonathan Bingaman President, Domestic Multi-Platform Licensing & Distribution
Jonathan Bingaman has been named president, domestic multi-platform licensing & ...
20/05/2024
DLT Entertainment Gets FAST Laughs With 80's Sitcom Flashback Channel
Producer and distributor DLT Entertainment said it launched a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel called 80's Sitcom Flashback....
20/05/2024
Zeam Media Names Sandie Trombert CMO
Zeam Media said it hired Sandie Trombert as chief marketing officer....
20/05/2024
Meet the VFX producer
Angus Berryman, VFX producer at UNIT studio tells TVBEurope how perseverance paid off as his career progressed By Matthew Corrigan Published: May 20, 2024 ...
20/05/2024
Sony signs NDA with Paramount Global but is reticent about earlier plan
The New York Times said the move was a significant step forward in their effort to court Paramount By Matthew Corrigan Published: May 20, 2024 The New Yor...
20/05/2024
CBC HR Team Getting Ballpark Staff Ready to Play Ball
A pair of stalwart members of the Capitol Broadcasting's dream team have been getting the company's two Coastal Plain League teams ready to launch their...
20/05/2024
First European Election Major TV Debate this Monday Night on Upfront with Katie Hannon
As part of RT 's extensive coverage in the run up to the European Parliament...
19/05/2024
TV Techs Weekly Product Wrap-Up
Missed any of our product coverage during your busy week? The TV Tech weekly product and services news wrap-up provides links to all of our coverage from May 13...
19/05/2024
The CW Shares Its 2024-2025 Lineup
LeVar Burton will host the new game show Trivial Pursuit on The CW, while Raven-Symon will host Scrabble....
19/05/2024
Biden, Trump Agree to Debates on CNN, ABC
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to debates, set for June 27 on CNN and September 10 on ABC....
19/05/2024
End of the Line for Young Sheldon' on May 16
Young Sheldon signs off after seven seasons on CBS, when the series finale airs Thursday, May 18. Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik reprise their roles as Sheldon Co...
19/05/2024
House of Zwide' June Spoiler: The Zwides recover their millions
House of Zwide' June Spoiler: The Zwides recover their millions The House of Zwide' June teasers reveal that Funani and Nkosi will recover a share of t...
18/05/2024
If Bundling Is Back, What's the Ideal Bundle?
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. Bundling is back in a big way, with all the major streaming companies and many pay TV operators exploring ways to simplify the consumer experie...
18/05/2024
FCC to Vote on LPTV Rules during June Open Meeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the June Open Commission Meeting schedule...
18/05/2024
Matthews Launches New Multipurpose Grip Rail Telescopic Grid Pipe Solution
Matthews Studio Equipment has introduced Grip Rail, which the company said offers a better way to mount equipment on location, in the studio, or on the fly....
18/05/2024
IAB Tech Labs, Google Partner on New First Party Data Solution
In a notable development in the industry-wide effort to address privacy concerns while improving efficacy of marketing efforts in a cookieless ad landscape, IAB...
18/05/2024
TV Tech Weekly Product Wrap-Up
Missed any of our product coverage during your busy week? The TV Tech weekly product and services news wrap-up provides links to all of our coverage from May 13...
18/05/2024
DHD Elevates the Art of Podcast Production
DHD Elevates the Art of Podcast Production Brie Clayton May 17, 2024 0 Comments Hero image: the DHD DX2 base and expansion modules Latest-generation ...
18/05/2024
Skeem Saam: Friday's episode, 17 May 2024 [video]
Skeem Saam: Friday's episode, 17 May 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soapi...
18/05/2024
Shaka Ilembe' approved for season three
Shaka Ilembe' approved for season threeMzansi Magic's hit series Shaka Ilembe' which stars Nomzama Mbatha has been commissioned for a third season....
17/05/2024
Aerojet Rocketdyne's Camden Site Leverages Modernization Investments to Accelerate Solid Rocket Motor Production
Aerojet Rocketdyne has worked to modernize facilities at its Camden, Arkansas, l...
17/05/2024
FCC Plans to Revise LPTV Rules
The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would revise rules governing low power TV stations (LPTV) in a number of areas, including online ...
17/05/2024
Demystifying Post-Production: Introducing Cinema 4D Particles Week 4
Demystifying Post-Production: Introducing Cinema 4D Particles Week 4 Brie Clayton May 17, 2024 0 Comments With the spring release of Maxon One, we...
17/05/2024
Takashi Yamazaki Film Godzilla Minus One Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Takashi Yamazaki Film Godzilla Minus One Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio Brie Clayton May 17, 2024 0 Comments Hero image credit: 2023 TOHO CO., LT...
17/05/2024
Sterling Event Group Streamlines Live Event Productions with AJA
Sterling Event Group Streamlines Live Event Productions with AJA Brie Clayton May 17, 2024 0 Comments Live event productions only happen once, which ...
17/05/2024
Meet the product manager
Muster Ngobi, product manager at LYNX Technik tells TVBEurope how the ever-evolving media industry provides a truly dynamic working environment By Matthew Corr...
17/05/2024
TV, Streaming Schedule for 2024 NFL Regular Season Is Released
NEW YORK As declines in linear TV viewing make the ongoing popularity of live sports, particularly football, central to financial success of the TV industry, th...
17/05/2024
Netflix Ad Tier Hits 40M Monthly Active Users
During Netflixs second Upfront presentation to advertisers, Amy Reinhard, Netflix's president of advertising, walked advertisers through the continued growt...
17/05/2024
Scripps Promotes Jeff Kiernan to VP, Local News
CINCINNATI The E.W. Scripps Company has added to its leadership team for news by promoting Jeff Kiernan a veteran journalist and general manager of Scripps'...
17/05/2024
Survey: New Disney-Fox-WBD Sports Streamer May Hurt Pay TV Sub Counts
Top executives from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery have consistently insisted that their joint venture to launch the Venu Sports streaming bundle in the...
17/05/2024
Caitlin Clark's WNBA Debut Set Viewing Records
ESPN has announced that its coverage of Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut in the Indiana Fever versus the Connecticut Sun season opener was the most-watched WNBA g...
17/05/2024
ATEM Mini Extreme ISO switcher and Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
ATEM Mini Extreme ISO switcher and Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K Brie Clayton May 16, 2024 0 Comments Blackmagic Design announced today that Yoic...
17/05/2024
Pixomondo's Virtual Production Academy Expands with Programs at Sony PCL, Vook, and Vancouver Film School
Pixomondo's Virtual Production Academy Expands with Programs at Sony PCL, Vo...
17/05/2024
WBD Upfront Show Offers Peeks at House of the Dragon,' White Lotus,' Biden-Trump Debate
The Warner Bros. Discovery upfront presentation took place Wednesday, May 15 at ...
17/05/2024
The Black Keys, Jelly Roll, Kate Hudson Set To Perform on The Voice' Finale
Season 25 of The Voice wraps on NBC Tuesday, May 21, with performances from The Black Keys, Jelly Roll, Kate Hudson, Lainey Wilson, Muni Long, Thomas Rhett and ...
17/05/2024
CNN Boss Mark Thompson's Plan Includes More News in More Categories on More Devices (Upfronts)
New CNN CEO Mark Thompson spelled out his plan for the struggling news network d...
17/05/2024
Netflix To Launch In-House Advertising Tech Platform
Netflix, a newcomer to the advertising business, said it plans to launch an in-house advertising technology platform....
17/05/2024
Netflix Plots TV Takeover at Upfront Presentation
Netflix shared some programming projects at an upfront presentation in New York. Those include the basketball-themed comedy series Running Point, a Mindy Kaling...
17/05/2024
Plex Geek Week Sale Offers 20% Off Plex Lifetime Pass
Plex is offering movie and music collectors a 20% discount off its Lifetime Plex Pass as part of its Geek Week sale....
17/05/2024
GroupM Names Toby Jenner as President, GroupM Clients
Giant media buyer GroupM said it named Toby Jenner as global president, Group M Clients, a new position at the company....
17/05/2024
Clients of Independent Agencies Boost Programmatic Buying
Smaller advertisers are increasingly buying connected TV programmatically, according to a new report from FreeWheel, Comcast's ad-tech unit....
17/05/2024
TCLtvPlus Adds Streaming Music Channels From Vevo
TCLtvPlus, the streaming app on smart TVs made by TCL, has added live linear channel from music-video programmer Vevo....
17/05/2024
StackAdapt Adopts Data From Samba TV for Programmatic Campaigns
StackAdapt said it made a deal to integrate data from Samba TV into its programmatic advertising platform....
17/05/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa gets a rude awakening when Kgosi blackmails him
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa gets a rude awakening when Kgosi blackmails himDon't miss Friday, 17 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem ...
17/05/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Dorothy is blown away by Ona's sketches for her wedding dress
Tonight on House of Zwide: Dorothy is blown away by Ona's sketches for her w...