LADOT peak hour parking restrictions force Plaza de la Raza's hand at Lincoln Park
Judging by the reaction in this blog's comment section, and the comment section in this post on Curbed LA, cars parking on the lawn at Lincoln Park seemed to get the most attention from people. It is a salient image of a beautiful urban oasis being ruined by a lack of leadership and a culture of entitlement to those that own an automobile.
Since this is what people cared about the most (I'll have to do more work on the narrow sidewalks, inadequate crossing points, ruined sidewalks, and outrageously fast car speeds) I decide to post a short video I shot on July 29, 2010 showing a potential solution to the parking problem caused by patrons of Plaza de la Raza at Lincoln Park.
Lots of parking exists in the immediate area around the Plaza de la Raza.
First, there is a 100+ car space parking lot at a DMV across the street. Talking with our local councilmember, Councilman Ed Reyes, it seems that (even though we have a powerful member of the legislature in charge of this area, Asm. Kevin de Leon) the State of California is not interested in helping the Plaza de la Raza grow and thrive.
Next, Mission Dr. has a large stretch of road that is used to park over 50 cars during the day. This curbside parking is removed from use due to LADOT peak hour parking restrictions that go into effect at the precise time that the Plaza de la Raza goes online. The LADOT's signs prevent Plaza patrons from parking on Mission Dr. from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. - precisely when this parking is most needed!
Several people have sworn to me that it is impossible to get the DMV to crack, and open up parking in their lot after hours, so I believe that the best solution is to remove the peak hour parking restrictions on this one stretch of Mission Rd. adjacent Lincoln Park.
The LADOT's John Fisher, head of the Office of Transportation Operation, is responsible for the installation (or removal) of these signs. The small stretch of Mission Dr. near the park needs to have these restrictions removed.
The entrance to the park on Mission Dr. needs to be closed to the public (a fix I've been promised by Councilman Ed Reyes, on the condition I film the finished product and post it online).
This isn't rocket science. This isn't going to take millions of dollars. This is about stopping the death of a little boy or girl riding their bicycle in the park before it happens. This is about respecting the right of people to have access to unprogrammed green space to meander, picnic, play, nap, and socialize without the threat of a car running them over. This is about respecting Lincoln Park and respecting what it represents in this community.
Remove the peak hour parking restrictions! Car-free Lincoln Park!
Several people have sworn to me that it is impossible to get the DMV to crack, and open up parking in their lot after hours, so I believe that the best solution is to remove the peak hour parking restrictions on this one stretch of Mission Rd. adjacent Lincoln Park.
The LADOT's John Fisher, head of the Office of Transportation Operation, is responsible for the installation (or removal) of these signs. The small stretch of Mission Dr. near the park needs to have these restrictions removed.
The entrance to the park on Mission Dr. needs to be closed to the public (a fix I've been promised by Councilman Ed Reyes, on the condition I film the finished product and post it online).
This isn't rocket science. This isn't going to take millions of dollars. This is about stopping the death of a little boy or girl riding their bicycle in the park before it happens. This is about respecting the right of people to have access to unprogrammed green space to meander, picnic, play, nap, and socialize without the threat of a car running them over. This is about respecting Lincoln Park and respecting what it represents in this community.
Remove the peak hour parking restrictions! Car-free Lincoln Park!
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13 comments:
If this rant is really about respecting Lincoln park and what it represents in this community why haven't you bothered to look at the "real" issues that plague the park. For example have you ever gone on Megan's law website to see how many registered sex offenders are out fishing by the lake? Try it sometime.
As far as people having access to green space they have tons of it. You just have to get off you bicycle without a seat and look around the rest of the park. Your making it seem as though there are cars parked on the baseball field, the playground area, the middle of the lake and turning the park into Ascot park race track with cars speeding throughout the whole park. Try panning out your camera next time, but that might involve less camera time for you though, so I don't think you'll go for it.
That's admirable that your trying to change local parking enforcement zones. But I feel that you still have to present a concrete solution. You should allow yourself more time to present ideas before you start criticizing what's wrong with it's current condition. I understand being a business owner your use to getting things to move at light speed, but out here your working with bureaucracy that moves at the speed they have to.
I don't think they'll close the entrance on Mission and Lincoln Park as a result of it being protected as a historical land mark. Have you even seen the Art Deco water fountain? Looks like you haven't. But also why would you want to block access for the fire department as well as paramedics in case something was to happen on the north side of the park?
As far as respecting the parks residents wishes stop posting misleading information about the park. I gave you a grace period of 24 hours to allow other people to post, it looks as though I'll be the only one posting on this one too. Raging against the Brayj.
Lincoln Park Lover and Fighter
Fighting gentrification since
Tue Jul 27, 12:17:00 PM PDT
I have presented a concrete solution.
Nothing in what you've said above disproves my claim: remove the peak hour parking restrictions by the park and the Plaza patrons will not need to park on the lawn.
If you have other problems with the park, make a video, write a blog post, contact public officials. You will have my support in seeing those positive changes made.
The parking problem at the Plaza has ruined a big chunk of the park. This is the truth. The Plaza is a great place, but patrons parking on the lawn has to stop.
If we remove peak hour parking restrictions on Mission, 50 to 70 cars can park with no problems, for free.
One many can make this change: John E. Fisher of the LADOT. I have provided his email and phone number.
File your complaints with him.
Re: ubrayj02 said...
You keep on posting the same garbage over and over again. You still haven't answered whats going to happen if the parking restriction are lifted on Mission st. How many of those are going to remain available for park to use? That's what I meant by concrete solutions. Have you ever looked across the street from Alta to Thomas st. and seen how many of those cars actually move? Looks like you don't because every video you keep posting has a close up of you.
As far as Plaza ruining a large chuck of the park, honestly how big is this chunk your upset about? Based on your video posting your making it seem as though there parking in all 180 acres of it.
As far as making a short video and posting it online, I'm strapped on funds, as I mentioned in the last post I drive a Sears inspired BMX that I picked up at Saint Vincent De Paul for $6.50. Maybe you could help sponsor a guerrilla film making class. If you give the proceeds of one of your high end bikes, you'll help purchase an apple laptop, microphones, video camera's, digital cameras, blank mini dv tapes and dvds to burn the final project. That would only set you back $2,500.00 bucks. I know it sounds expensive but then you'll have actually made a contribution to the 90031, claim it as a business "tax" expenses and have a street team. Let me know I have lots of friends that need something do this summer.
Lincoln Park Lover and Fighter
Fighting gentrification since
Tue Jul 27, 12:17:00 PM PDT
How long is this stretch of Mission Dr.?
There is approximately 1,000 ft. of Mission Dr. open to public parking (the rest of the !,400 ft. is red curbs or crossing points).
How many cars can fit in a 1,000 ft. long strip of road?
The average "full size" car or SUV is about 17.25 ft long. Diving 1,000 ft. by 17.25 gives us approximately 58 parking spaces (give or take a few due to poor parking skills, etc).
So, we're looking at, easily, 50+ parking spaces.
Now, as regards neighbors on Mission St. (and they do use the free parking - you will find no argument about this with me), there is a stretch of Mission Dr. that is empty at nearly all hours of the day and night between Lincoln Park and Sichel.The exception to this being the early morning parking by the El Arca buses.
This stretch is comprise of about 763 ft. of parkable space. That will fit about 44 cars.
That is, the portion of the Mission that is used up by neighbor parking their cars across the street from their houses only account for 10 or 15 spaces.
The rest of the room is up the street and is not used!
Now, this is for "full size" cars and SUVs, and we both know that few of the cars parking in Lincoln Park now match that description. Most of them are mid-size sedans.
The counts a friend of mine has done has shown two consistent things going on:
(1) approximately 40 (or more) cars parked on the lawn at Lincoln Park
(2) a practically empty parking lot on Sichel adjacent the tennis courts (the lot nearest the Plaza)
Now, as to whether or not this is a "large" area that the automobiles are taking up. There exists on Mission Dr. space enough to park 50 cars.
The parking lot on Sichel has room for about 60 cars.
The parking lot behind the pool/rec. center has room for over 150 cars.
Valley Blvd. is home to 50 (or more) parked cars alongside the park on any given day.
This is not counting all the blacktop nearby dedicated to car parking that is empty when the Plaza is online. USC has a massive 300 or 400 car lot across from Valley. The DMV has a lot that can fit 170. The privately owned lot on Keith and Mission can squeeze in 40 or 50 cars.
Every single street in this area is turned over not just to automobiles, but to high speed automobile travel. Every open speck of land is a car parking space.
Except for the interior of the park.
A park is a special place, a large public area kept for recreational use.
With all the road noise and pollution, even from within the interior of the park, one can barely escape the insane hullaballoo of the city. And now it is impossible, because we've turned over the park to car parking!
Do you not see how insane this whole scenario is?
There is no justification that will excuse this situation. It must be ended! When it comes to car parking, car streets, car space, car everything OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER.
Parks are for people, even rude, quarrelsome people such as yourself! Not cars!
Re: ubrayj02 said...
At what time are you launching your investigations? If you take a look right now it's about 9:05 a.m. you will find that all of the street parking on Mission from Main St. to Lincoln Park is close to being full. One of the local residents is a local Semi truck driver so you could imagine how much space is being taken up. You would also notice that all of the parking on the south side of the park on Vally blvd is also taken up by U.S.C. hospital staff and patients.
The parking on the Selig lot is full at 4:00 p.m. as a result of it being close to the tennis courts, the skate park, the playground area, picnic tables and the mini mart.
Are you proposing purchasing the empty parking lot on Keith st. and donating it to the park as a possible solution. If so I'm on board. But you probably haven't done your research or else you would have known it belongs to Cry Help the drug rehabilitation center across the street. Since it's a for profit location just like your store they were able to purchase that location and not have to park their cars in the park.
I do agree with you about "A park is a special place, a large public area kept for recreational use", but that's what your fighting against. Plaza handles 90% percent of the park traffic from 4-8 P.M. Your basically fighting against all of these students parents. Have you actually ever walked inside Plaza and talked with any of the staff, parents or students? Do you even know what services are offered there?
I understand parks are for everyone to enjoy I just wish somebody would have taught you to share.
What's up with our guerrilla film making class?
Lincoln Park Lover and Fighter
Fighting gentrification since
Tue Jul 27, 12:17:00 PM PDT
I walk and run in the park, and take my child to the park to play. There are many neighborhoods that have residents with higher income levels than those in Lincoln Heights with just as many, or more registered sex offenders. And just think of those who don't register and update the system when they move. It's important to be vigilant when taking children out!
There are actually cars that have gone up to the baseball field and playground areas when some of the little league games were going, and the playgrounds were crowded. Closing some of the larger entries is necessary, and the art deco fountain would remain intact. Emergency vehicles would have access to bollard removal... Emergency responders are usually very resourceful and they manage to come through. Hopefully they won't have to respond to someone getting hit by a car in the park.
The cars driving/parking in the park is a safety issue. I'm glad the LH Neighborhood Council has responded to the issue tonight. Glad it will be taken to the other city departments also.
Bien hecho!
Re: Anonymous said...
I agree with anonymous it's important to be vigilant with your children at all times. Most of the responses that emergency crews respond to are of children that don't get picked up by there parents. I've seen two this week.
It's also unfortunate that a few careless individuals ruin the park residents sense of safety. I happy to hear they'll be installing bollards in the high traffic areas and that they'll be saving the water fountain on Mission and Lincoln Park. Do you know if they'll be performing a lead study before they begin the restoration project maybe we could all look into that. It's nice to hear a new voice out here! Keep on posting.
Lincoln Park Lover and Fighter
Fighting gentrification since
Tue Jul 27, 12:17:00 PM PDT
I for one would like to see Lincoln Park revert to the way it was before cars existed, but since that is not possible, I 'd like to see the original statues reinstated here in Lincoln Heights and not at that travesty called the Los Angeles Zoo.
Oh yeah, I'm all for banning cars throughtout the city limits of Los Angeles.
I would like to see the lake drained and turned into a roller hockey rink. That is unlikely to happen. In the meantime, how about wet bar?
Re:Anonymous
Fri Aug 06, 11:56:00 AM PDT
http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/la/historic/redcars/redcar_map.jpeg
I thought you would get a kick out of this. Good luck in all your endeavors it might happen in another hundred years depending on how long it will take to eliminate our fossil fuel supply.
Keep on posting!
Lincoln Park Lover and Fighter
Fighting gentrification since
Tue Jul 27, 12:17:00 PM PDT
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