L.A.’s Eastside, in need of green space, will get a new 12-acre park under 6th Street Viaduct
STAFF WRITER
PUBLISHED MAY 12, 2023 UPDATED MAY 15, 2023 3:39 PM PT
When the 6th Street Viaduct opened last summer, Angelenos massed in revelry — so much so that authorities shut down the bridge for several nights because of street takeovers and other dangerous activity.
In a community starved of public gathering spaces, the bridge near Boyle Heights became one of its own. Soon, it could stretch over a new neighborhood park with sports facilities, picnic spots, a play area and a plaza where artists can display their work.
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted last week to allocate $2 million to begin construction of the park under the new bridge — a project that aims to add green space to two park-poor neighborhoods.
“Park equity is not just a matter of convenience, it’s a matter of social justice,” Councilmember Kevin de León said in a statement. “All communities, regardless of their zip code, deserve access to quality parks and open spaces.”