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LANLT Projects
Richardson Family Park, an LANLT project also located in the community surrounding USC, was established in 1999 by a group of neighbors who wanted to transform an empty lot into a park. In partnership with Esperanza Housing Corporation, the generosity of the Richardson Family (for donating the land) and other community partnerships with two long standing block clubs in the community, Comunidades Unidas en Progresso, and Van Buren Place Community Restoration Association, the park opened to an excited community. Over the next decade, the park fell into to disrepair and the community began to view this once hopeful space as a magnet for the negative activities of the community. The neighbors wanted a change. In August 2007, a community work day which bought out 400 volunteers to renovate Richardson Park was sponsored by LA Stars Foundation (NBA Players Baron Davis, Paul Pierce and Gilbert Arenas). The University of Southern California also provided a neighborhood outreach grant to fund community organizing and economic development opportunities for residents. Other community partners included the local Neighborhood Council, Empowerment Congress North Area Neighborhood Development Council (NANDC) and once again support from Comunidades Unidas en Progresso, and Van Buren Place Community Restoration Association, aided in the restoration. The challenges at Richardson Park include an ethnically diverse community, as well as a negative stigma of the park, that had developed over years of neglect and abuse by gangs. Just as at Estrella Park, the community members living around Richardson Park are taking back their park with the help of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust through direct community involvement in managing the park, community ownership and active programming. Art programs and aerobics at the park are full and several dozen residents participate in park clean-ups each month. “It has been so exciting to see involvement and participation grow among community members”, says Gabriela Garcia, Community Organizer for the project. In December, the community organized a wonderful holiday celebration which attracted hundreds of neighborhood youth, adults and children and they are now looking forward to doing more for their neighborhood park. Richardson Family Park and the community management group there, Vecinos Unidos de Richardson Family Park, hope to continue to make progress in maintaining Richardson as a gem of the community. The Moothart Colingnon Community Garden (formally Francis Avenue) was founded in 1996 by neighbors of the then abandoned lot that was seen as an eyesore by the community. With help from the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles and the newly formed non-profit Urban Ministries, the once trash strewn empty lot While the garden was cherished by the community from the onset, lack of funds began to take its toll on the space. The garden was also still privately held, so its future was uncertain. The garden slowly began to once again become neglected except by a few truly dedicated community members. After serving the community as a green space for over ten years, it was time for the garden to become a space truly owned and operated by the community. The LANLT was approached as the essential partner to ensure that the garden be maintained as a public space in perpetuity. In 2007, LANLT entered into negotiations with the owner of the property who had previously given permission to the community to use the lot as a garden, but had not formally transferred title. After months of work, the owner agreed to sell the property at a discounted price so that the property would remain an asset to the community. The final contracts were entered into in the winter of 2008 and LANLT began managing the property shortly thereafter. With the help of a Prop K Grant, LANLT began to make much needed improvements at the garden in September 2008. The garden now has a fully functional community management group, Comunidad en Accion and recently organized a Grand Re-Opening for the site. The garden also has programming such as art, youth guitar classes, as well as an empowerment group for women.
In May of 2005 the Anna Bing Trust awarded LANLT and Los Angeles’ Department of Recreation and Parks four million dollars as a bequest by the late Anna Bing to build parks with This project was the second in the Anna Bing Bequest, which provides funds for park and playground development. The property is approximately 6,000 square feet and was surplus city property that was seen as a blighted piece of land by the community. LANLT became involved and organized the first meetings within the community to discuss the project. After many meetings and discussions, planning and more discussion, Marson Park opened 11th Avenue Family Park Park is located in the Hyde Park area of South Los Angeles. This area is particularly park-poor, so it seemed like an ideal fit for a LANLT led project. 11th Avenue Family Park has gained notoriety as the "park built in a day". Because of the generous support of all parties involved, 11th Avenue did come into to being after just one day of hard work from the community and other supporters. 11th Avenue creatly is home to 11th Avenue Family Park Council that oversees events, programing and maitenance of the park.
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Estrella Park, South Los Angeles, North University Park
neighborhood that had none. The effort was led by a group of fifth and sixth graders and their teachers. 
began to be transformed. With seed money from both the church and Urban Ministries, the garden began to take shape. Some of the first improvements that were made at the garden were as follows: a driveway was poured, a shade structure was built, fencing installed and a mural was painted on the back wall of the garden that is still as beautiful as when it was first painted.
playgrounds in underprivileged neighborhoods in Los Angeles. One of these sites is on 1644 Beverly Boulevard is in the heart of the area known as Historic Filipinotown, and the site of Beverly Union Park. This park was seen as an integral addition to the community, given that this area is very densely populated and most residents do not have yards of their own. Beverly Union Park has truly become this neighborhood’s collective back yard.
created with Bequest funding have provided a safe place for the community and its youth with active programming and management to offer an alternative to gang participation which is prevalent in the area. Classes and services have been provided for children and adults based on their needs and desires. SIPA, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, has been the primary partner in the management and programming of the park. The community management group at Beverly Union Park, Consejos Unidad, has been consistently meeting on a monthly basis and continues to plan gatherings at the park and anniversaries. 
its gates to an overjoyed community in September of 2007. Marson has since become an integral part of the community. Not only does Marson serve as the meeting place and focus of the community group, Grupo Unidos, but it is also the only place within the community where people can enjoy active recreation. Programming at Marson over the last two years has included such diverse options as aerobics, cardio salsa, Aztec dance, nutrition, cooking, communication, conflict resolution, and martial arts. Art classes are also offered. 
With the help of a Kaboom! grant, and service from California Volunteers, First Lady of California Maria Shriver's organization. The project was also made possible by Kaiser Permanente. 