PROJECT UPDATES

LAST UPDATED: November 2022

WISHING TREE PARK - 204th Street & Budlong Avenue, West Carson

September 2022 UPDATE: Wishing Tree Park is nearing completion. The Park’s anticipated completion is early 2023.

Located on a now remediated brownfield, construction associated with the Neighborhood Land Trust’s largest project to-date started on May 1st, 2019, with the installation of a sound barrier to reduce construction-related noise. With the nearest park located over two miles away, this 8.5-acre project represents a monumental demonstration of a community-designed, multi-benefit park for residents who have historically been severely under-resourced and deeply impacted by environmental injustice.

Our community partner, the Del Amo Action Committee, has been instrumental in advocating for a safe and beautiful community park for the past two decades. We have been working in solidarity with them for the past 6 years to make Wishing Tree Park become more than just a dream. In addition, we could not have made these wishes come true without the support of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation as well as Los Angeles County Supervisorial District #2, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, California Representative Al Muratsuchi and the Frank McHugh-O’Donovan Foundation along with many additional funders.

The park’s ribbon cutting event is expected in early 2023.

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ESPERANZA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GREENING PROJECT - Beginning in Early 2022

On April 14, 2021, the Neighborhood Land Trust was awarded an urban greening grant from the California Natural Resources Agency for just under $1.5 million to reimagine the campus of Esperanza Elementary School. Located in the densely populated neighborhood of Westlake/ MacArthur Park, the campus, like many in LA, is mostly asphalt. Designs will include outdoor classrooms, expansion of a current native habitat built in 2017 as well as storm water capture and lots of native and shade producing plantings.

WATTS TOWERS ARTS CENTER CAMPUS RENOVATION AND EXPANSION PROJECT - Beginning in Fall 2022

Located in the community of Watts sits the internationally known Watts Towers Arts Center Campus. The Watts Towers are a National Historic Landmark that welcomes over 40,000 visitors from around Los Angeles County and the world each year. Despite the international acclaim and historical significance, the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus remains under-developed and severely lacking in amenities.

In Fall of 2021, the Neighborhood Land Trust was awarded a Proposition 68 grant that will support the renovation of the campus. After years of working in partnership with the City of Los Angeles and Watts Towers Arts Center Campus leadership as well as many stakeholders and partners in the community, the campus renovation is close to fully funded. The concept includes a looped fitness path, interactive music and art installations, an outdoor amphitheater and classroom, and lots of native shade trees and plantings.

We also wish to thank Assembly Member Gibson for his tireless work to secure state funding allocation.

11TH AVENUE RENOVATION PROJECT - Beginning in Fall 2022

The 11th Avenue Park Renovation project is the renovation of an existing 0.27-acre park located in the community of Hyde Park in South Los Angeles. Owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, the park provides some of the only greenspace in the community. Originally built in 2008, the park has had no upgrades over the years and, as it exists today, is underdeveloped and provides few recreational benefits.

The park renovation includes new active and passive recreation features with a new playground, new fitness stations, new grassy areas, new shade trees, new seating areas, a basketball/shooting court, and a redesign to the existing public art mural celebrating Cesar Chavez.