Estrella Park

(Re)Open Date

2004, 1981 (Original)

Location

1956 Estrella Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Size

.33 acres

Residents Served

11,318

It seems most July 4th memories we have are of being outside, in our backyards, at the beach or at our neighborhood parks! What if you didn't have that park? The one where you had family picnics or the one with the best view of the fireworks? Here’s a story of one such community.

The abandoned lot on Estrella Avenue in 1981.

In 1981 on Estrella Avenue, just a few blocks from Norwood Elementary and jettisoned up against the 110 freeway, sat an empty dirt lot strewn with old cars, dumped furniture and trash. This is what the kids in the area had as a playground and that's how it remained until a 5th grade teacher and a few students decided to change it. The students worked to raise money and purchase the lot, the community came together to clean it up and lots of groups pitched in to help build the park. The Estrella Children’s Park opened in June 1982.

The Grand Opening celebration of Estrella Children's Park in June 1982 (above).

In 2004, as one of our first projects, the Neighborhood Land Trust acquired the parkas a donation from the California Community Foundation.With grants from The Mark S. Taper Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation, and The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, we upgraded and refurbished the space a few times over the years. Today, the Neighborhood Land Trust still owns and manages Estrella Park. Trees have grown more mature, soft walking paths have been added and there is a gazebo for community gathering and events.

Much of what we do today is rooted in some of the same community work displayed in 1981by the students of Norwood Elementary and the entire community. With your help, we work in and with communities that are in desperate need of green spaces. We organize, we design and develop based on the community needs, and we help the community not only steward and maintain the park and gardens, but also provide engagement through free programming. Before COVID-19, the Neighborhood Land Trust worked with residents of Estrella Park to help distribute food twice per month. This has not only continued during the crisis but has been an essential service to the community during these times.