LOS ANGELES — Today, L.A. City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and the L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks joined community members to celebrate the development of a new playground at MacArthur Park. The playground, which is expected to be open to the public by Summer 2024, will offer a space for children and families to gather, play, and connect with one another.
The playground will be built on the southwest corner of the park, near the intersection of 7th Street and Park View, in an area of MacArthur Park that is currently underutilized. It will contain swings, slides, three-dimensional net climber structure, resilient rubber surfacing, benches and more. The park is currently divided in two by Wilshire Boulevard, and while the northern half includes an amphitheater, bandshell, soccer fields, and a recreation center, the southern portion primarily consists of the lake and does not contain the same amenities.
“Our neighborhoods deserve to be deeply invested in with resources and services that support thriving communities,” said Councilmember Hernandez. “This playground will create yet another opportunity to activate the beautiful green space at MacArthur Park for children and families in the neighborhood. I am grateful for our partners at the City, especially our Recreation and Parks Department, who are bringing this project to life.”
“Excitement is in the air as the construction of a new playground at MacArthur Park is underway,” said Anita Meacham, Recreation and Parks Superintendent. “Today as we witness the transformation unfold, we are not just building a new playground, we are creating a destination where countless stores, and cherished memories will resonate in the hearts of this community and generations to come.”
“Para mi la área de juegos para los niños es muy importante porque aquí en Westlake MacArthur Park es el único parque que tenemos y será un privilegio de tener esta área esto ayudará a las familias de la comunidad y niños tengan un espacio donde ellos puedan jugar libres y seguros,” said Vicenta Martinez, Westlake South Neighborhood Council President.
The Westlake and Pico Union neighborhoods are park-poor and contain only .5 acres of open space per 1,000 residents, compared to the City average of 8.9 acres per 1,000 residents. The groundbreaking comes after Councilmember Hernandez’s recent announcement of funding for a new project that aims to reconnect MacArthur Park by converting 1.7 acres of roadway into a high-quality park space that supports pedestrian and transit infrastructure in one of LA’s most densely populated neighborhoods.
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