Make Your Own Park at Wilshire and Vermont (click to enlarge; or see full text, below)
Last July, I wrote an article in Bicycling magazine about our hometown “Department of DIY,” the group that painted a much-needed bike lane on bridge that crossed the Los Angeles River - a spot that where a lane had been proposed, promised, and even funded by the city, over and over again, but where no facility had ever happened, despite the documented danger cyclists faced there.
The article evoked a lot of debate. Metblogs was the first to notice the lane, here. Activist Stephen Box wrote about it here; Toronto’s Urban Repair Squad – the mothership of all home-made bike lane projects – featured it here; and I revisited the topic at StreetsblogLA (a series of posts and articles followed, rounding out the debate.)
I just received a communique from the Department of DIY announcing its latest action – in conjunction with today’s Parking Day celebration (for the uninitiated: a special day when we take over parking spaces, paying the meter fees to use the section of roadway for something else – art, protest, selling cookies, and making sweet, sweet love…)
Here are pictures of the sign and a statement from the Department. (Perhaps not obviously, whether the city actually is involved with this couldn’t be confirmed. I suggest you contact the appropriate folks mentioned in the sign text and find out for yourself…)
“In an unprecedented move, the City of Los Angeles contacted the Department of DIY to discuss community involvement for a new city park on the southeast corner of Wilshire Blvd and Vermont Ave. ‘Those of us who work for this great city’, said the liaison, ‘have realized the importance of public space created not only for, but by the people.’ Per the city’s request, the sign announcing the park was posted at the future location to coincide with Park[ing] Day LA. She only asked that the following statement be included in our communication with the public: ’For too long this city has been overrun by the automobile. A city with fewer automobiles and more pedestrians, cyclists and public transit users is good for our collective health and social well-being. We applaud the people of Park[ing] Day LA for their vision, determination and hard work to make Los Angeles the great city we all strive toward. More public, green space is part of this vision. Please know that the city is behind you 100%.’ “
Note direct response system; no closed hearing needed.
Here’s the full text of the sign (with the name and contact info for an LA DOT official redacted to prevent excessive mail from spam-bots; you’re encouraged to read the sign if you want the info.)
Text of sign:
COMING SOON: A PARK FOR THE PEOPLE
The City of Los Angeles is pleased to announce the future home of the Alprentice ‘Bunchy’ Carter community park in collaboration with Park[ing] Day and their vision of a greener, brighter, more democratic Los Angeles.Facility Hours Of Operation: 24 Hours a Day/ 7 Days a Week
PERMIT-FREE VENDING
SKATE/BIKE PARK
100 COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS
WEEKLY FARMERS MARKETS
JOGGING PATH
MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS FIELD
Bike Station (bikestation.org)Classes/Programs:
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
ARTS & CRAFTS
SENIOR PROGRAMS
NUTRITION COUNSELINGWe want your ideas! Please fill out a card with your ideas for your park and place it in the box.
(city contact info redacted.)
Dang, don’tcha wish EVERY DAY was Parking Day?
