People Street meets Hope Street.
Just over a hundred people attended the grand opening of Los Angeles' newest parklet, located on Hope Street just below 11th Street in the downtown L.A. neighborhood of South Park.
In case you are not familiar with the term, a parklet is a mini-park that replaces a parking space or two. Though it is an informal practice all around the world, the concept got its start in San Francisco. L.A. County's first parklet was in Long Beach. Now they have spread to Huntington Park, East L.A., Northeast L.A., and other parts of downtown.
The latest parklet is actually the first to come to completion under the official LADOT People St program where communities can request parklets, plazas, and bike corrals. People St projects require a community partner; this one was shepherded by South Park Business Improvement District.
South Park is changing dramatically, with a great deal of new high-rise residential development open, and more on the way. The parklet's Hope Street block has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past couple years. What had been just an anonymous parking structure added ground floor retail. The BID repaired the sidewalks and replaced the street trees. Now the parklet extends the already walkable, inviting atmosphere.
Enjoy the photo essay of today's opening celebration - after the jump.
In other LADOT People St news: The next two L.A. parklets will be at 3272 and 3370 Motor Avenue in Palms. Construction is expected to start there this month. The previously announced parklet planned for 15231 La Cruz Drive in Pacific Palisades will not be happening, as the applicant withdrew. People St will also be installing two new bike corrals in February. (Thanks to LADOT People St head Elizabeth Gallardo for the update on other projects.)
