South Park’s corner of Downtown is comprised of only 52 blocks, but many argue they’re the most significant per acre in all of downtown Los Angeles.
Home to LA Live, the Los Angeles Convention Center, Crypto.com Arena, the GRAMMY Museum, California Hospital, glitzy new hotels, and a growing residential population with no end in sight, even stalled projects, like the Oceanwide Plaza, have become world renowned because of their presence amidst South Park’s glass towers and live broadcasts of iconic awards shows.
South Park BID Team Member with helpful information
In addition to thousands of residents, South Park welcomes millions of visitors for everything from LA Comic Con to Los Angeles Lakers games and Herbalife Conventions.
Downtown has many distinct neighborhoods – the Arts District, Fashion District, Historic Core – but the neighborhood that consistently ranks the highest for cleanliness and safety is South Park. Maintaining that quality is something the South Park Business Improvement District pours a lot of resources into. The South Park BID employs nearly 30 ambassadors, responsible for maintaining the public realm and patrolling the district 7 days a week, to provide a respite that is unique in Downtown.
South Park Farmer’s Market – photo Shawn Smith
The South Park BID continues to expand its talented team, and the newest member of the team might be their best find. He certainly threatens to be the most popular member of the team with kids and grownups alike. And he is uniquely qualified to lead a new campaign encouraging residents and visitors to be responsible pet owners and scoop the poop!
The South Park BID, led by Nolan Marshall III, who moved to Los Angeles 18 months ago after serving as the CEO of Downtown Vancouver in British Columbia, is the first district Marshall is aware of that has chosen to formally adopt their newest employee. “We found this gangly mutt near Pico and Olive, and after putting up signs in local businesses and coffee shops, we decided as a team that we should consider cleaning him up and adopting the big guy!”
South Park’s new mascot – Pico the Found Dog!
The Found Dog signs posted around the neighborhood and on social media contained a QR code that directed people to a website that contained information for being a responsible pet owner, locations of newly installed pet relief barklets, and resources for pet owners in DTLA. When no one recognized the cartoonish drawing of the dog, the South Park team decided to make him a part of their family. Because of the location he was found, they named him Pico.
People, both visitors and residents, are the literal lifeblood that coarse through South Park’s arteries of clean streets, bike lanes, and pressure washed sidewalks. To entice people to linger and socialize, hopefully spending not just quality time but significant quantities of capital in the neighborhood, the BID has expanded their investments beyond the ambassadors who uphold its pristine, clean, and safe reputation. South Park’s Manager of Placemaking and Partnerships, Rich Sarian, and South Park’s Manager of Marketing and Events, Safiya Valverde, collaborate to design, launch, promote, and celebrate public realm projects and community events.
Night Lights of South Park
In the last 18 months, South Park has installed new string lights and tree lighting to illuminate Pico Street, Hill Street, and 11th Street. They planted hundreds of new rosebushes. The launched the weekly South Park Farmers Market, which will celebrate its one-year anniversary this July. They hosted an annual meeting that was more like a neighborhood party (featuring a performance by the Top Shelf Brass Band) at the Ray Charles Terrace at the GRAMMY Museum. Each person in attendance was gifted a complimentary GRAMMY Museum Membership for a year.
South Park ”Barklets”
The BID also partnered with the new Moxy Hotel, Audiograph (previously Hi-Def), and Prank Bar to host Sounds of South Park, bringing live music to the neighborhood’s businesses. And just this spring, the BID installed Spark Spots, locations where non-locals and residents alike can find hand-painted South Park postcards that the BID will stamp and mail when placed in one of six decorative bronze mailboxes. To date, 200 postcards have been mailed to addresses locally and as far away as Paris.
South Park BID at Emerald Carpet event at 33Taps
“Our team is trying to do the little creative things fast and the big things intentionally to make this district as economically and socially vibrant as we all imagine it can be. No member of the team has the luxury of chasing their tail all day or burying things that are undiscoverable to the world,” Marshall said. “So like Rich, Safiya, Stephanie, Victor, and the rest of the team, Pico needs to lace up his sneakers, put on his work clothes, and get to work!”
This week marks Pico’s first week on the job as CAO—Canine Ambassador Officer. In addition to encouraging pet owners to scoop the poop, refilling dispensers with bags, and designing signs to discourage his pals from watering the rosebushes, Pico is leading the party! He made his first public appearance at a capacity-filled VIP Green Carpet Event at 33 Taps, and he’ll be celebrating with the neighborhood at the one-year anniversary of the South Park Farmers Market on Saturday, July 27.
Pico, like residents, businesses, and visitors, found a home in South Park. And with his team at the South Park BID, they’re hoping to not just keep it clean and safe but continue to build on the dynamic economic and social vibrancy that really sets it.
