Park Stories

Dana lives close enough to the park that it is almost like her backyard. “Sometimes, in the middle of the day, I’ll just pop into the park and go for a quick walk or bring food from Chinatown and just enjoy my day out here. It’s nice to have a place that is designed with […] Read More

Jimmy is a kite enthusiast who often attends kite festivals and contests where he flies his handmade kites. “It’s not about going out there to win, it’s just going out there for the festivities, just to enjoy flying your own kite, you know?” Jimmy grew up in Belize and has been making kites his whole life. “Making kites is just something we do. It’s just part of our culture — playing marbles, flying kites, playing tops, you know, different outdoor activities,” he said. Read More

Monk moved to LA as an adult. His childhood was filled with experiences outside in nature. As he got older he began to realize how important that time outdoors was in shaping who he is.  “My daughter has grown up in apartments pretty much all her life. From when she was born, I started visiting […] Read More

Edith was visiting California from her rural town in New Jersey. “We have lots of parks in New Jersey with space for the animals, and laws to protect them. We are supposed to protect the land; we’re supposed to take care of the land for other generations,” she said. For her 80th birthday she celebrated […] Read More

Since the park’s opening he has enjoyed how well maintained it is. “It’s not really what I think LA is depicted as on the TV — as dangerous and violent. At the park there’s kids, dogs, adults, and everybody’s just having a good time. It’s peaceful, friendly, and clean. It’s a community, very diverse, with different cultures and ethnicities that come to the park. It’s been really nice to participate with the community and just meet random people. The park is a true representation of LA itself.” Read More

Prior to living in Mid City, Carrie lived in New York where she enjoyed public spaces. “This is really nice because LA definitely does not have enough [public spaces]. It’s very vital,” she said as she looked out at LA State Historic Park. Both Diana and Carrie expressed their appreciation for the park, sharing how […] Read More

Maria heard about the Kite Festival and made sure to stop on their way to a wedding. She lives in Commerce and makes the drive to LA State Historic Park frequently. “There are some parks around my neighborhood, and I do go to them, but there’s nothing like here where he [my son] can just […] Read More

“We’re big advocates of public space and parks. We believe that public space belongs to all Angelenos. This park holds a lot of our history together, we even came here before we were married, it is an oasis in the middle of the city.,” Richardo says. Marty begins to share part of that history, “My […] Read More

Christian La Mont’s relationship to the park started a couple of years ago when Park Ranger, Luis Rincón, invited him to La State Historic Park’s ‘First Friday Campfire.’ He kept returning to events, inviting others to experience what he had. “We found that it was a great place to build community, to build trust, to get to know our neighbors, and to enjoy the smell of a campfire while overlooking the Downtown Los Angeles skyline.” Read More

James grew up in Koreatown but didn’t know the park existed until returning from college. “When I came back, I was like, ‘Whoa, what is this? I can’t believe something like this exists,’” James said. He works in the sustainability sector and discussed the story of the park. “This park was made by the people. […] Read More