Just two blocks east from LA Live, South Park is shining brighter than ever before thanks to three new separate street lighting projects. The Business Improvement District, led by urban visionary Nolan Marshall lll, has said that the new lights are part of an update geared at attracting more patrons to the area. The project cost approximately $80,000.
In total, 10,000 feet of new string lighting have been installed along Pico Blvd., which extends from Figueroa St. to Hill St. The string lights connect streetlights on the north and south sides of the street. Bistro lights have been strung above Hill St. that zigzag across the east and west sides of the street from Olympic Blvd. to 11th St.
The final addition includes lighting for all 60 trees from 11th St. from Figueroa to Broadway. An act so simple yet having the most impactful improvement is already paying dividends for the area.
Getting it together – Councilmember Kevin DeLeon and South Park BID Director Nolan Marshall 3 – photo by Keri Freeman
Marshall made it clear that the lights are meant to encourage visitors to explore the areas around LA Live. He’s looking far into the future when it comes to what these improvements might mean for DTLA.
“South Park is an important neighborhood in our downtown core, and creating a safe, welcoming, and economically vibrant downtown is critical to Los Angeles’ future as we build more homes in our urban core and we prepare to expand our convention center and to host visitors from around the world in 2028,” stated Marshall. “Whether it be our investments in a weekly farmers’ market, promoting local businesses and events, planting hundreds of rose bushes, or stringing lights to illuminate key corridors, we’re highlighting what’s possible with small but significant investments in our community, and we hope the city and private sector match our efforts.”
Downtown Weekly at South Park BID welcome booth – pick up a copy at the next local community event.
On Monday, April 8, South Park hosted a special lighting ceremony with live music and fresh burgers provided by the Habit food truck. Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin De Leon showed up along with KTLA, other major media outlets and hundreds of visitors.
Hundreds line up for Habit Food Truck at 11th and Grand
Marshall believes that this kind of attention and excitement will lead to people spending more time and money in the area.
“We think that just a simple project like lighting important corridors will help people remember what was exciting about downtown,” Marshall said.
As South Park continues to draw in more and more locals and tourists thanks to its many offerings of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, visitors will now be able to see clearly no matter what hour of the night their downtown explorations go until.
