Thursday, July 22, 2010
Campaign for a Car-Free Lincoln Park, Pt. 3
It's a wild west parking free for all in Los Angeles' Lincoln Park, located in the North East Los Angeles neighborhood of Lincoln Heights.
Bounded by two massive car-only roads, Mission and Valley, Lincoln Park features a surprising lack of safe crosswalks. The park is bounded by terrible sidewalks, either crowded with utility poles or destroyed by Parks and Rec work crews in their efforts to install sprinklers around drought tolerant planting areas.
The park is home to an excellent local resource: the Plaza de la Raza. Unfortunately, due to its lack of accessibility, most patrons and employees of the Plaza are forced to drive to the park. The streets by the Plaza de la Raza allow free parking, but peak hour parking restrictions are enforced during the busiest times at the Plaza. A nearby DMV has an empty parking lot in the evenings, but bureaucratic SNAFUs have prevented Plaza patrons to use this facility. The solution? Just illegally park your car in the park!
It is not uncommon to see drivers using the easy-access ramp near the intersection of Lincoln Park and Mission Rd to drive through the park to the lake, the playground, or simply to take a nice drive through the park looking at everybody on the playground with a lost look in their eyes. There are no similar facilities for those in wheelchairs or with strollers. The park has four (count 'em) four pedestrian access points, only one of which provides easy access to the park (i.e. it doesn't run headlong into a wall or a closed gate).
The playground equipment at the park is, of course, filthy. Illegal vendors ply the park (where no concession stand is available), and the remains of their trade are smeared all over the playground which has (surprise mom and dad!) no trashcans, no water fountains, and no nearby bathrooms.
The freshly destroyed paths in the park have been "repaired" with compacted gravel pits that turn into slush when it rains or the sprinklers go on the fritz. Good luck with a stroller, a bicycle, or wheelchair when that happens.
All in all, this place of peace, recreation, and tranquility has been destroyed by an anti-human, pro-car-driver, lazy Park and Rec attitude.
I don't expect this video to do much of anything other than get a big shrug out of the powers that be, and to make me a persona non grata at the park I live next door to travel through, and play in, on a daily basis with my family.
Obviously, I'm the one with the problem.
Not the LADOT, that has kept this park cut off from the neighbors and turned all surrounding streets into freeways.
Not the Park and Rec Department, whose incompetent management and construction practices have ruined this fine resource.
Not the Plaza de la Raza, which has not found a solution to its parking troubles.
Not the General Services Department, which has not policed that park properly.
Not the DMV, which hasn't shared it's public parking lot with the Plaza de la Raza.
No, it's my fault. So, go ahead, send me your stupid letters and call me up and threaten me. It happened last year when I wrote the first posts in this series and I expect it to happen again now that this video is posted.
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49 comments:
Sorry about the sad state of Lincoln Park. I feel bad complaining about Eagle Rock Park's lack of a continuous path that runs the perimeter to walk/bike around. I haven't read all your Lincoln Park posts but has there been consideration for guerilla closing of the entrance or bold notification that it is illegal to park there? The work shouldn't rest on us residents but alas that is the reality unfortunately. Thanks for your inspiring advocacy for pedestrian/biking improvements in NELA and the whole city of LA.
-Severin
Yeah! Glad you're keeping the heat on this one. Parks ARE NOT for parking.
This looks like a good candidate for September's Park(ing) Day. We can set up outside the park in one of the unused actual parking spaces.
That's pretty enraging. Do you have any "before" pictures of what it looked like before that fabulous new parking lot was allowed? That would be good to contrast with this "after" video for those that don't know/remember what it looked like.
What's up Josef...long time no see. Happy to read you're doing some good in this world. Find me @ facebook.com/LouisReyes
You're right, you are the one with the problem — and the problem is that you care about a park and a community the City of L.A. doesn't.
Keep up the good work and keep the pressure on.
Thank Goodnes I'm not the only one who sees this!!
I Love Lincoln Park, I've been going there for many years. I practically live there. I've witness many cars racing through...I've chased cars outta there and of course they keep coming back. There's no enforcement all the time...Apparently Plaza does whatever they want. No one else seems to care unless something bad happens to a patron and if they happen to sue..Then things will change for a while... Get signatures...Protest!! Call the councilmen's field office...Just the other day I seen a lady race through the park and literally park her vehicle right next to the lake...Stood there for a good while just fishing and having a good ol time...No one said anything...So you know she's coming back right? Oh and I'm sure she'll be bringing more friends next time...
Hear, hear...
I concur...Perhaps we could get some local residents to go to City Council to demand Lincoln Park to be repaired or call the Necessary Departments to take care of our Park.
Seems as though management has no say on the grounds-
Keep us posted.
La Claudia
I grew up in Lincoln Heights and have many fond memories of the park. I now live in the extremely bike-friendly San Francisco Bay Area.
After watching your videos about the awful conditions at Lincoln Park and reading your 7-17 speech draft, I did a little Internet research. It seems that bike paths and bicycling transportation are on LA’s hot-button list.
Have you thought about inviting Critical Mass LA to your Cause? I don’t know how they decide where to ride, but I would think they’d be happy to embrace bike path issues at Lincoln Park.
There have been recent tensions between Critical Mass LA and LAPD--and, trust me, the last thing I want is to bring trouble to the neighborhood--but high profile defines Critical Mass and makes them effective.
A Lincoln Park ride would virtually guarantee network news coverage. Then take advantage of the event opportunity and expand the story by doing a strategic PR email campaign to targeted local print reporters and network news anchors.
A little public outcry about environmental and funds mismanagement in this political climate should effectively ‘enlighten’ whomever is responsible for making such a mess of one of the oldest parks in Los Angeles.
MojoSweets, aka Maureen Castro (LHS ’78), finishes this post in disbelief at her suggestion because she has oft proclaimed her hatred of Critical Mass SF stemming from years of being Friday-tired but commute-stuck on public transportation because of them. If this event comes to pass, then she will replace those thoughts with fond childhood memories about ducks and squirrels in Lincoln Park.
I noticed this last Tuesday as I drove downtown. The whole park looked horrible and I didn't understand all the cars parked on the grass??? Sad.
Shocking. But sadly typical for Los Angeles. We have leaders with no vision and lots of bureaucrats who don't even live here. Time for a change. Keep up the good work.
Josef:
Have you thought about running for City Council ?
The community sure could use a person like you to be in a place where you could better affect change.
whats the word for that time period between when you last jerked off and when you can next jerk off?
how bummed are you in that hour? the one pleasure no one can ever take from you is gone.
well, that and huffing paint.
Whoa, I had no idea this was going on at Lincoln Park. My parents grew up there, and shared many memories of the lake, and the park. I myself remember it being a terrific spot for many to enjoy! In fact, I have posted many historical pictures of the lake and park in my Facebook page. Come on people, join together and do something about it. There is no reason you should tolerate or put up with this. Make some noise, and demand that the City of LA take action. This is YOUR community, YOUR park, YOUR resource. Take care of it!
Jim Comoe
Long Beach, CA
Check out this link to "FastLane: The Official Blog of the US Secretary of Transportation:" http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/07/netroots-nation-puts-focus-on-listening-engagement.html
"Bikes, trains, stimulus, and the Obama Cabinet's biggest surprise--Despite early expectations or fears, one of the two Republicans in President Obama's cabinet and head of an often-obscure agency has become one of the administration's rock stars. Ray LaHood has elevated public transportation, biking and walking to prominence in American transportation policy just as the Recovery Act of 2009 pumped billions into new projects."
As far as acquiring the dmv parking lot, I bet you would love the dmv worker to furlough their already 32 hour work week to a 24 hour work week so plaza could borrow their parking structure from 4-8 P.M. We don't all have the privilege of owning our own business where we have the luxury to ride a bike through park while other people in the 90031 have to work a regular 40-60 hour work week. As far a real solutions you haven't presented any. Would you really want the city of L.A. to congest our already crowded and dangerous streets of Mission and Lincoln Park just so you get off your soap box? How many slots is that going to free up maybe 13? That's even if the local residents who live across from Plaza decided to even move their cars. Why don't you do something more productive like volunteer your time down the street at the East Lake Juvenal Hall, I'm sure their there as a result of not having after school programs like Plaza!
Anonymous,
I can see clearly how turning the park into a hard pack dirt parking lot is the only solution here.
You've opened my eyes - surely it is because I am a child of so much privilege that I would dare to "get on my soap box".
How luxurious it is to be chased through the park by all of these multi-thousand dollar cars. I'm lighting my cigars with $100 bills and chortling just thinking about it.
You still haven't proposed a viable solution.
Do you if even live in Lincoln Heights? The dirt mound your complaining about is a a result of the 2009 state of emergency water conversation act signed by our "Governor", which is way parks and recreation stopped watering the lawn a long time ago buddy, check your facts so you don't look stupid in front of all your online friends!
Fyi, did you know Plaza responsible for saving our historic boat house gallery? Read a book and stay out of wikipedia.
Anonymous, I have proposed several solutions! Have you not read any of the other posts I've written?
Do YOU live in Lincoln Heights? The dirt patch in the park is the result of automobiles parking on it, in greater numbers, over the past two to three years.
It began in earnest last Spring, and has continued unabated to the present. The rest of the park has grass that (though heavily trampled by fork lifts and tractors the Parks Dept. uses) is thriving.
Pull your head from you hindquarters: this isn't an anti-Plaza thing! Hello! Earth to Anonymous! The Plaza can thrive and grow, but parking in the middle of a historic park (that predates the Plaza) is wrong, unsafe, unjust, and disgusting!
You still haven't proposed a viable solution.
I'm familiar with your your blogs but you still addressed why your suggestions don't work.
You are right about it beginning to dry out last spring, as I mentioned in my last post 2009 state of emergency water conversation act was signed spring of 2009.
As any true Lincoln Heights native remembers, back in 1969 the city of Los Angeles was going to demolish a flourishing park that once had a zoo, a carousel and a boat house. It was available for all of Los Angeles to enjoy, not just it's Lincoln heights natives. But a group of community members advocated a formed a little committee to save Lincoln Park, this organization was able to fund raise $110,000.00 in 1970 and stop the destruction of the park. Thanks to the help of Ruben Salazar la Opinion newspaper columnist, actor Eddie Albert of green acres, actress Margo Albert, labor organizer Frank Lopez helped form this organization called Plaza De La Raza.
Read a book!
Do something that actually matters like stopping Caltrans for ripping up El Sereno for the 710 freeway extension. I would blob about that!
So the Anonymous troll is here to give a history lesson that the people of his generation saved the park so the rest of us can enjoy looking at them drive their SUV's onto the park?
Josef's proposed about 10 different things that would help offer a viable parking option for the many fine people trying to take advantage of the park including the historic boathouse that is now used for something other than a boathouse.
He lives three blocks from the park and takes his kid there and gets to watch blatant stupidity by people that may not know better but should simply not be parking in the grassy areas of the park and now you are claiming he's not worthy of telling people to abide by normal decency and care?
@Anonymous
Keep posting, it shows your inability to process the most basic essence of the problem here.
Cars do not belong on the walking paths and grassy areas of a park.
I'm also laughing about your idea of having the 'privilege' of owning your own business as if that means Josef actually leads a life of leisure like and smokes cigars lit with $100 bills. He's made a ton of life sacrifices to do what he's doing and your attempt to make him sound like a clueless outsider is so off base we should just laugh openly at you.
Re: Adam Bray-Ali
Actually I'm only 15 years old buddy, I learned about the history of the park from my chicano studies teacher at Lincoln High School. It's a sad world to live in where you could make any accusation and present it as a fact.
I don't know what you have against children question bicycle riding hipster with fancy hundreds of dollar bicycle that only people in Mount Washington could afford. Is that why his shop is so close to it ? When I grow up I want to be like that troll who's trying to save Lincoln Park and preserve it for future generations. Damm why wasn't he at the central farm? They could of really used him!
HAve a blog for you, how about mta refusing to put safety barrier to kept students from being hit by the gold line on mission and 1st...
I'm just saying
To anonymous #1: Please let your Chicano Studies Teacher that it is the "conservation", not "conversation" act. Glad to see that a 15 year old is interested in local issues in the community.
"I like turtles"
@Anonymous
Sure you are 15. No 15 year old in America references anyone to read a book.
So, other than just trying to be acidic, what do you suggest be done to improve Lincoln Park's actual park space?
Re: Adam Bray-Ali
Your right about kids in my neighborhood not having the best schooling, with graduation rates reaching about 70 percent why would want to punish the only one that does? Everyone else that post here has all these wonderful memories of what the park looked like back in the day don't even live in Lincoln Heights anymore. They have a huge disconnection with the demographics of this community. There not aware of what types of services are offered there at plaza. For example did you know that Plaza offers free art, music, dance and theater classes to low income residents of the surrounding communities? If reached early enough I would want to believe that they might have a chance to see a world outside of their one mile square world and be introduced to a world of the arts. I know your friend being a property owner and has his own business is trying to maximize the most from his tax dollar but at the end of the day lets say he gets his wish and no one is allowed to park inside the park whats going to happen to those 600 a week children that walk into plaza everyday? Parking situation sucks, when plaza was designed 40 years ago only a minority of the population drove. Parking was not a problem.
As far as a viable solution I don't see any. We are in a recession, fighting two wars where there's more profit in killing kids over seas them educating them at home. Maybe your friend could donate the profits of his business and buy one of the ware houses across the street before USC purchases it donate the lincoln Park for parking? At the end of the day the organization that your friend is complaining about does more for the community of Lincoln Heights then your bicycle pedaling friend. Check out their web site it's www.plazadelaraza.org, look at their flicker page and see who is using the park to it's maximum potential.
As far as trying to protect the park why didn't he chain himself up to one the palm tree on the valley side to protect the water irrigation project from cutting down those over 60 year old trees? I'm just saying.
There more productive work that needs to be done in Lincoln Heights. I would love to see a farmers market. El Sereno, Highland Park and Boyle Heights all have one don't you think it's time?
Your friend stopped replying to my post, what happened truth hurts?
Re: Adam Bray-Ali
As far as improvements, I love to see plaque commemorating the history of the park, I've seen them through out the city where people could understand the history of this location. I want to see a lighted jogging path so my classmates don't have to feel like their going to get raped when ever they have the urge to go for early morning or evening jog. I'd want the rec center to hire another boxing coach, their last one retired and now there are a bunch of pissed off youth that know how to fight and don't have anywhere to channel it. I'd want the lake restocked at least once every season. I'd want more hours of operation for the merry go round. I'd like to be able to have a picnic up on the hill by pool with out finding needles and condom wrappers. I'd want the memoria's wall to stop being vandalized. But most importantly I would like to feel safe...
I think that there is more important work that needs to be done, he should do itinstead of picking on this non profit site that's actually doing wonders for our community. Did you know all death reported in the park happened outside of Plaza? Few years back they found a dead woman in the bathrooms by Alta St, that why bathrooms are locked at night, and the dead homeless that died drunk on the lake by duck island.
Maybe he should complain about all the drug dealers that hang out by the Seling side, who always try to sell me drugs when ever I walk home.
How about this for a funny one.
In Chicago's Lincoln Park they have a pay parking lot.
http://www.parkinginthepark.com/
Nashville, TN has a form letter they distribute explaining that parking on the grass causes a number of problems and is prohibited.
Maybe we can get edit this to be from Los Angeles and just put them on every car in the park.
http://www.nashville.gov/Parthenon/pdfs/no_parking_on_grass_policy_102006.pdf
Re: Adam Bray-Ali said...
I don't care about Chicago's Lincoln Park or Nashville, TN. That's the problem with gentrificationers like you.. You have no regard for the established history or take it's local residents into affect.. Stay out of 90031 move back to 90042 and sell bikes to people out in the westside.
Lincoln Park Lover and Fighter!
Dear People,
How scary to be a person on foot or on a bike at Lincoln Park! You don't know which way to look for on-coming cars -- is it left, right, or over your shoulders? Everything kids learn about how to cross a street is irrelevant because on the dirt field that used to be a grassy area, there are no indicators that this is now a roadway.
Here is a cheap and immediate solution that might save a life:
Get some of that white powdered-chalk that is used to mark football fields and draw lines to show the roadway. Mark-off cross-walks, too, so drivers will know where to look for pedestrians and bicycles.
Then, consider the following:
Maybe it's time to hold a big fund-raiser at Plaza de la Raza to finance the creation of a paved parking lot. Make it a nice parking lot with curbs and tree-filled islands. Include pathways for foot traffic. Street lights would make it safe after dark. Provide trash containers to keep it litter-free. The Plaza could even charge for parking to pay for up-keep and maintenance.
Public vehicular access to all other areas of the park would be prohibited. That lady driving up to the lake would have to get a wagon or a pushcart to haul her gear to her favorite spot.
Just think how nice it would be. No more dust kicked-up dust by cars, no more scary near-misses of being hit, no more "us-against-them" mentality. Sure,the parking lot would take away space that was once used for people, but is it being used for people now?
Thank you for the forum. I'm just an old lady with bad knees.
Grandma Mary
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