Panelists Say Pershing Square Fixes Don't Require Starting Over
Joe Linton
[handmaderansomnotes.wordpress.com]
Sketch by Joe Linton of the panelists at Wednesday's event.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — A panel of urban planners, architects and activists agreed Wednesday that making Pershing Square into a successful park won't take a complete redesign.
Key complaints centered around the park's walls, which restrict visibility and mobility, a lack of amenities and the parking garage ramps. Yet, according to panelists, vast improvements to the park would take only limited changes and investment.
Moderator Christopher Hawthorne, of the LA Times, summed up the session by saying, "There seems to be a real agreement that from a design point of view this is easier than we have made it out to be."
Dan Biederman, co-founder of the Bryant Park Corporation in New York and a frequent BID consultant, said, "Programming will win the day at Pershing Square." He suggested movable chairs, chess and checkers facilities, concessions and a reading room, among other draws to the public.
However, panelists agreed programming improvements would only reach so far. "I think the walls are the biggest impediment to the park," said Kathleen Bullard, especially since the obstructed line of sight creates a sense of insecurity.
Doug Suisman called for "selective demolition," to Pershing Square, but said that the parking ramps "remain the outstanding issue." Ramps into and out of the garage under Pershing Square line all four sides of the park.
Biederman warned against thinking the park could only succeed if a huge investment was made. "Do the $2.3 million [improvement] or the $23 million, if you have to, but don't make it into a $230 million project," he said.
Panelists also debated the type of trees in the park (are palm trees emblematic or problematic?), whether the parking garage should stay or go and whether, as Lewis MacAdams suggested, the name of the park should be changed from that of "the guy who invaded Mexico."
Despite these quibbles, Downtowners will be able to look forward to some immediate improvements, said Barry Sanders, President of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Just after Pershing Square hosts its St. Patrick's Day celebration next week, work will begin on the northeast corner of the park, where steps will be replaced and initial work on the Palm Court renovations will begin. Planning to put a dog park in Pershing Square is moving forward, but has not yet been finalized.
"No RFPs," Sanders said. "We're done wasting time."
The event, hosted by Aloud, was the second of a two-part public forum that began last month with "Does LA Need a Downtown" at RedCAT.
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Tim Quinn on March 13, 2009, at 02:24PM – #1
Love the sketch! Do more.
Valifornication on March 13, 2009, at 02:32PM – #2
I feel this way too: "especially since the obstructed line of sight creates a sense of insecurity." and the parking garage must stay, it's not like there is an abundance of parking downtown, and it's one of the few places i know of to park. My first thought on seeing pershing square was "what is it?" all walled in it's hard to tell whats going on.
Jon T on March 13, 2009, at 02:34PM – #3
Thanks for the recap of the meeting. I was looking forward to coming but couldn't make it. I'm glad that the issue of the walls surrounding the park was brought up. I've been a long time proponent of knocking them down to at least give visual access to the park from the surrounding streets. Sounds like some great ideas were exchanged, now i'll cross my fingers and hope something gets done this century.
I also agree with the previous commenter, in lieu of actual photographs, the court room style sketch is awesome!
Robert Banuelos on March 13, 2009, at 02:53PM – #4
good to see that they are making some progress on the park. Although i agree with most of the suggestions. The exterior walls to hid the park and make it inaccessible. I personally like going to Downtown in Ice and being able to skate in the openness and being surrounding by the LA skyline. However, i dont agree with the reading room. that doesnt make sense to me. knock down some walls and construct others. or why u would need on room for, if you want silence go a block west to the library. The parking should remain, in a cash strapped city, its a source of income for the city and a convenience for those visiting the area. Also Lewis MacAdams should probably research who John J. Pershing is if all he can attribute to him is fighting Mexico. Good article, wish i had attended the meeting.
D on March 13, 2009, at 04:27PM – #5
i would love it if it returned to its former glory when it was all trees and green. all it needs is a Angel statue in the middle of the park, since this is the city of angels.
General Jeff on March 13, 2009, at 06:34PM – #6
Just so that it's clear, Barry Sanders is the President of the Recreation and Parks Commission. I know it's kind of confusing, but Rec and Parks is city and Parks and Rec is county. Pershing Square is within city limits so Rec and Parks has jurisdiction.
Also, I love the sketch as well. What an added touch to start the story. MORE Sketches PLEASE!!!!
Comandante Juanito on March 13, 2009, at 07:19PM – #7
I swear, John Waters has got to be pushing this whole effort.
NO dog turds!
Joe Linton on March 13, 2009, at 10:03PM – #8
You can see more of my (Joe Linton's) artwork at www.handmaderansomnotes.wordpress.com
Dawna Nolan on March 14, 2009, at 10:35AM – #9
I attended this talk, and just for clarification, the "reading room" was a not a room at all, rather, a sort-of bookshelf on wheels that contained magazines and books which were loaned to park visitors on an honor system.
There was consensus by the panelists that the walls were a negative feature- and that there needed to be a restaurant concession present in the park. I remember attending a meeting with the Pershing Square park management over a year ago, and two things that were suggested at that time regarding these issues were that until they could find a restaurant willing to come into the park, a waiver of the rule that downtown's cart vendors cannot enter the park should be made..hot dogs! paletas! (popsicles) and that the walls could be planted with quick-growing vines. In the case of the walls/vines, it wouldn't address the perceived safety/security issue, but by making the park more green & park-like, it likely would be more inviting. These very simple and inexpensive solutions make sense to me, and i wonder why it is so difficult to get them implemented?
I think one of the most fascinating things said by the panelists was a comment made by Dan Beiderman that the ratio of men to women visitors was a good gauge of a park's "health," according to him, if the ratio was close to 50/50, the park works. He said this was because when it comes to safety, women are extremely likely to "vote with their feet," a& simply not visit a park didn't feel safe. So- another solution, which I propose to my fellow female downtown residents: even before let's start "taking back the park," and visiting it regularly, our very presence makes the park healthier.
katrific on July 24, 2009, at 11:20PM – #10
You may want to visit UCLA Extension's Landscape Architecture student show this year, as the Design III class taught by Duane Border came up with many redisigns for Pershing Square. The student show is being held at 1010 Westwood, opens August 8th until September 12th.
Juanito on July 25, 2009, at 01:46PM – #11
O.K. , let's just call it a Twitter Room, instead of a Reading Room.
How about a Chess Room? And on the other hand, a carousel could fortify the spirits of citizens with opposite mindsets.
One either looks inward, or they look outward. Take which you please, you can never have both.
oscar on July 26, 2009, at 01:34AM – #12
NO DOGS PLEASE!