Today, South Park is home to nearly 15,000 downtown Los Angeles residents. As of now, the only parks in the district, better known for its entertainment venues and sports arenas, are privately owned.
For residents who long for common spaces to get to know one another, there are one of two choices: the South Park Commons with its enchanting 20-foot wishbone or the anti-dog, highly regulated and heavily gated refuge of FIDMs adjacent green space.
South Park Commons – photo Keri Freeman
Lo and behold! Downtown Los Angeles is notorious for its temporary parking lots—open spaces that have long been hot spots for future development.
Great news! There just happens to be a seemingly ordinary patch of asphalt at 11th Street and South Grand Avenue, dwarfed by the surrounding residential towers, that could soon become a vibrant public space.
The 0.31-acre property, currently owned by entertainment giant AEG, was originally intended for a hotel that never materialized. Today, it serves as a private lot for AEG, only opening to the public during peak event times and private events such as downtown’s annual Taste of South Park, presented by SPNA.
Yet, the city’s existing parkland guidelines recommend 10 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.
Recently, through the efforts of South Park BID director Nolan Marshall III and former CD14 Councilmember Kevin de León, the Los Angeles City Council has directed city officials to negotiate the purchase of the property from AEG with the goal of converting the 11th/Grand Street lot into a public park.
Since joining the district in 2022, Marshall has been a vocal advocate for park spaces, recognizing their potential not just foractivity but also as economic catalysts. His experience leading economic development and placemaking in major cities like New Orleans, Dallas, and Vancouver, has established a park that would attract new businesses and boost property values.
“New urban parks are incredibly rare because of the market dynamics of acquiring land downtown,” explained Nolan Marshall III, executive director of the South Park Business Improvement District, to the LA Times. “This is huge for us.”
South Park BID Director Nolan Marshall III with Pico -South Park Official Mascot
DT Weekly reached out in congratulations, and received this reply from the South Park BID Director, “This park has the potential to be culturally significant, leveraging partnership with sports and entertainment brands that are iconic and already proud to call this neighborhood home. Imagine the GRAMMY Museum hosting a series of tiny desk style performances, or the Lakers building a purple and gold playground for tiny hoopers. The mashups of public space and partnership are dream worthy in this neighborhood.”
The news has also been met with excitement by South Park residents, who have long yearned for a dedicated public space, especially seeing as the original vision for South Park envisioned a 50-acre park and lake surrounded by high-rise residences, akin to New York City’s Central Park.
The city plans to utilize development fees, known as “air rights,” collected from other public sites in South Park to finance the purchase. www.southparkla.com
