Congress approves Flood Control Act
Congress approves a budget that significantly expands the flood control duties of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Of the 50 projects authorized nationwide, the most money is allocated to Los Angeles County for work on the LA River. By the end of 1936, the LA River is deepened, widened, and confined between concrete banks from Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood to Elysian Park. Workers build levees along 2.5 miles of the river south of LA and construct debris basins and drainage channels in five canyons of the LA River watershed and one in the Río Hondo system.
RELATED STORIES

Parks and Gentrification
During the 80s, Downey Recreation Center — one of the few public parks in Lincoln Heights — was inaccessible and uninviting. Still, as the only park in the area, neighborhood kids like Lazaro Arvizu found themselves there often. Located in between the Swiss Dairy Company Plant (now home to the newly built Albion Riverside Park),…

The Story Behind the Myth
It is easy to spot Don Raúl Macias in the middle of the crowd: just look for his beret. If that doesn’t work, follow the sounds of the hundreds of children and teens that Anahuak Youth Sports Association trains weekly in parks throughout Northeast Los Angeles. His most recent position as Director of Anahuak, a…

A Dream Turned Reality
Since she was a little girl, Micaela Solís has always had to be independent. Originally from Puebla, Mexico, the experiences and lessons she learned during her childhood have deeply impacted her current role as small business owner. Growing up, she learned about the importance of punctuality, being serviceable and attending to the needs of others,…

The River and Elysian Valley
Decades ago, Ceci Dominguez remembers a very different LA River than the one undergoing rapid revitalization by way of nearby gentrification today. The word “river” might even be a bit generous here, as “flood channel” or “sewage line” could better describe its function in those days. “My kids would ride their bikes and wander down…