Press release via Councilman Jose Huizar

CONTACT: Rick Coca (213) 200-9974 rick.coca@lacity.org  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 23, 2013) – After months of planning and working with city departments and community groups, Councilmember José Huizar is proud to announce that the City’s first four parklets will be soon be constructed and open in Council District 14 in Highland Park, Downtown and El Sereno.

In Highland Park and El Sereno, Councilmember Huizar worked with Living Streets LA to create “Improvement Vision and Action Plans” to enhance York Boulevard and Huntington Drive. After dozens of community workshops, community members from both areas selected parklets as the centerpiece of their community-driven improvement plans.

“I want to thank all our community partners and city departments in helping us bring the first parklets to the City of Los Angeles,” said Councilmember José Huizar. “It is my hope that this Council District 14 pilot program will lead toparklets throughout the City, with the goal of creating more livable neighborhoods by encouraging more pedestrian and bicycle uses, as well as supporting local businesses.”

The Highland Park York Boulevard Parklet Grand Opening and Community Celebration will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at 1 p.m. on York Boulevard, just east of Avenue 50.

In Downtown, Councilmember Huizar will join with Mayor Villaraigosa, the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC), the UCLA Complete Streets Initiative, the Department of Transportation, and others for the Grand Opening of two parklets on Spring Street on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 at 9 a.m. at 639 S. Spring Street (LA Café).

And in El Sereno, the Huntington Drive parklet will have its Grand Opening and Community Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. near the Food 4 Less Supermarket (4910 N. Huntington Drive).

While just taking off in the City of Los Angeles, parklets are popular in other cities, such as San Francisco, Boston and New York.

Councilmember Huizar’s worked with Living Streets L.A. on the two pilot projects in Northeast Los Angeles, and along with Councilmember Jan Perry, introduced a motion in 2011 to support those projects, as well as the two on Spring Street. The motion also directed City departments to develop a long-range plan to support parklets throughout the City.

Huizar is one of the City’s leading “Complete Streets” proponents, bringing the City’s first bike corral to York Boulevard and supporting expanded pedestrian and bike access throughout his district and the City.

On York, through the York Vision Plan, the Councilmember worked with the Department of Recreation and Parks and Living Streets LA to secure $2.85 million in Proposition 84 funding to build a park on York and Avenue 50.