MacArthur Park opens new playground

MacArthur Park celebrated the newly opened playground with a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 24, hosted by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

During the event, community members enjoyed music, food and activities while enjoying the new space at the park for children and families. Playground equipment has just been installed near the intersection of 7th Street and Park View in MacArthur Park's southwest corner, in an area that has been underutilized in the past.

“This park is located right in the middle of one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the entire City and County of Los Angeles,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “The vast majority of our residents in this neighborhood live in apartments that don’t have access to green space in the form of a front yard or backyard. Today, we are activating another piece of this park and opening up more space for families and children to gather and play.”

The new playground in the community contains swings, slides, a three-dimensional net climber structure, resilient rubber surfacing and benches. Wilshire Boulevard divides the park in two, and the northern half has an amphitheater, bandshell, soccer fields and a recreation center, while the southern portion consists mostly of the lake.

"Today marks a significant milestone as we proudly unveil the new playground to the community for them to enjoy with friends, families and neighbors," said Jimmy Kim, General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks. "We believe that parks bring communities together and we take pride in ensuring our parks are safe, accessible and inclusive for every Angeleno."

The new playground comes after Councilmember Hernandez’s announcement of funding for a project that aims to reconnect MacArthur Park by converting 1.7 acres of roadway into a high-quality park space that supports pedestrian and transit infrastructure in one of Los Angeles most densely populated neighborhoods. Compared to the City average of 8.9 acres per 1,000 residents, Westlake and Pico Union neighborhoods have only .5 acres of open space per 1,000 residents. Thanks to Proposition 68 the park was funded by a 2018 ballot measure that authorized $4 billion in funding for parks, environmental infrastructure and protection efforts throughout the state. 

"The mission of the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) is to align and augment community investments for families and neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles and create opportunities for all Angelenos to prosper," said Abigail R. Marquez, General Manager of the Community Investment for Families Department. "The completion of the MacArthur Park playground is a direct reflection of our commitment to collaborate with City departments and community residents to enhance green spaces, which create a more resilient and equitable city. Thank you to Councilmember Hernandez for her vision to bring vibrant parks to Council District 1 and for her partnership with CIFD.” 

Now that the park  is open individuals are more than welcome to visit and have family time. MacArthur Park is located 2230 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057.