Spring Street Park, Los Angeles Public Space, California Development, USA Architecture

Spring Street Park, Los Angeles

American Public Space – design by Lehrer Architects

Jun 18, 2013

Los Angeles Public Park

Design: Lehrer Architects

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Spring Street Park in Downtown Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilmember Huizar yesterday opened Spring Street Park in Downtown Los Angeles, the 16th Park in the 50 Parks Initiative. The Mayor also announced the City of Los Angeles has purchased a lot from the State of California on the corner of 1st St and Broadway to create a new public space adjacent to Grand Park and across the street from City Hall.

photo from architect

“Spring Street Park is an example of how the 50 Parks Initiative is bringing green space and recreation facilities where they’re needed the most,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “I am also pleased that we have successfully purchased the lot on 1st St. and Broadway to remove blight and build more healthy public space in Downtown Los Angeles.”

Spring St. Park was designed by Lehrer Architects and is situated on .7 acres of land. It includes walking paths, an open lawn, seating, children’s play elements, native landscaping, and a smart irrigation system. The park’s planning, design, and implementation involved a collaboration among the Mayor’s Office, Council Districts 14 and 9, Recreation and Parks, Engineering, and local stakeholders, including “Friends of Spring Street Park,” a non-profit organization established to assist the park. Funding for Spring Street Park came from Quimby fees.

“As the number of people calling Downtown Los Angeles home has increased five-fold to nearly 50,000 residents in the last decade, one of our greatest needs is additional park space,” said Councilmember José Huizar. “The Spring Street Park and, in the future, new park space at 1st and Broadway will help us fulfill that need.”

photos from architect

Spring Street is the 16th park to be opened through the 50 Parks Initiative, which Mayor Villaraigosa launched in August of 2012. The 50 Parks Initiative takes underutilized properties, many left blighted from the housing crisis, and turns them into neighborhood parks in areas that badly need them.

Each park includes safe and environmentally sustainable features that minimize park maintenance and maximize community impact. Over the past seven years, the Villaraigosa administration has added 670 acres of park space, more than twice the amount of the previous two administrations combined.

“By creating these 50 parks in the least-served neighborhoods of Los Angeles, we are permanently transforming our City,” said Barry A. Sanders, Commission President, Recreation and Parks. “The Department of Recreation and Parks has been adding parks to its stewardship for over 120 years. Since 2005, we added 53 new parks and enlarged 15. With the addition of the 50 Parks Initiative, about 20% of the parks established during this Department’s long history will be the work of the last seven years.”

The Mayor also shared details regarding the newly purchased lot on 1st and Broadway. At nearly two acres, the lot was the home of the first State office building in the Civic Center. In 1976, the building was demolished after earthquake damage and has been left vacant ever since. In June 2013, the City purchased the Civic Center lot from the State of California for $7.5 million. Funding sources included Quimby fees and interest, zone change fees interest, and the Department of Recreation and Parks capital park development funds.

“This property has sat idle for far too long, needlessly costing taxpayers for maintenance and security,” said California Department of General Services Director Fred Klass. “This sale raises revenue needed to eliminate state debt and provides the City of Los Angeles park space to be enjoyed for generations.”

The Civic Center Park development will occur in stages, beginning with hazardous abatement. As one of the necessary steps to rebuild, a few dozen stray cats in and around the site will be rescued by CATS USA, Inc., and given to the Department of Animal Services. The Department of Animal Services will work with local humane organizations, rescuers, and members of the public to socialize the cats and find homes for them. None of the cats will be euthanized, and no cats currently in shelters will be euthanized to make room for them.

photos from architect

Spring Street Park – Information

Official opening: June 17, 2013

Location: 426 S Spring Street, Los Angeles

Square footage: 0.7 acre, L-shaped lot, bounded by Spring Street on the west, an alley on the east, and mid-block between 4th and 5th Street.

Design Collaborators – a unique Public/Private Partnership:
Bureau of Engineering, Department of Public Works. City of Los Angeles
Lehrer Architects LA

Consultants:

Structural Engineer: John Labib and Associates
Lighting Designer: John Brubaker
Water Engineer: Pace Water
Electrical Engineer: Donald Dickerson and Associates
Spring Street Chair Fabricator: Arktura

Client:
The City of Los Angeles
Bureau of Engineering, Department of Public Works. City of Los Angeles
Department of Recreation and Parks. City of Los Angeles
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Councilman Jose Huizar
Councilwoman Jan Perry

Construction Budget: $ 1.45 million

Spring Street Park information / images received from Lehrer Architects

Location: 426 S Spring Street, Los Angeles, Southern California, United States of America

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Two Los Angeles Projects Designed for Communities are Nominated for a National Best of Year Award

photo @ Lehrer Architects
Los Angeles Park Designs
Lehrer Architects is honored to announce that Spring Street Park and Potrero Heights Community & Senior Center are both nominated for a Best of Year Award. Both architecture projects are national finalists in the “Outdoor” category.