A COMMUNITY REBUILDS IT’S OWN PARK

Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust and The Estrella Community Club Facilitate A Community Build For a Park with a Long Neighborhood History.

(Los Angeles) On Saturday July 29th, over forty residents of a low-income South Los Angeles community carried colorful slides, benches and swing sets out of a truck and began putting together a dream. This dream actually began over twenty years ago when the children form Norwood Elementary School started a fundraising campaign to convert an ugly trash strewn lot into a green oasis. A pocket park in a dense concrete slab surrounded by freeways. But the years of neglect had not been kind to Estrella Park, the play structure rusted over, broken benches and general hazards lay waiting for unsuspecting children. The community had just stopped using it.

Saturday’s event was a testament to the power of organizing and the desire for green space. The “community build” was facilitated by a local non-profit committed to building community based support for pocket parks, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (LANLT). The event was also the outcome of a two year plan to revitalize the neighborhood’s interest in Estrella Park.

On Saturday, Tsilah Burman, LANLT’s Executive Director, in work shirt and jeans hammered away at a play structure and reflected, “This is what it’s all about, look around there’s five and seven year olds helping unload the truck and someone’s grandmother is putting together a swing set! We have been working hard for this day and it was well worth it. In September this refurbished park will re-open thanks to the S. Mark Taper Foundation and the Annenberg Foundation as well as the commitment of these community residents.”

Indeed the residents have been at the helm of the parks redevelopment. Last month they formed “The Estrella Park Community Club” and are working hand in hand with LANLT and Councilmember Ed Reyes on a grand re-opening celebration/street fair scheduled for September 16th. Councilmember Ed Reyes on hand at Saturday’s event reminded the residents that in 1991 the park and surrounding community was a hub for dangerous and illegal activities and that because of them the community is now much improved.