Building Los Angeles State Historic Park (LASHP)
The 32-acre plot that now houses the Los Angeles State Historic Park (LASHP) is a testament to the power of community activism. Throughout hundreds of “hearing sessions” hosted by California State Parks, nearby residents voiced their wants and needs for the land — and, by doing so, saved it from becoming the “River Station Business…
Read MoreBuilding the Foundations
As Director and Founder of The River Project, and the former Executive Director of Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), Melanie Winter is no stranger to the many opinions people hold regarding the future of the LA River and its surrounding communities. Over the years, the development of high-rise luxury apartments, large commercial retail…
Read MoreParks 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 Jr. found themselves there often. Located in between the Swiss Dairy Company Plant (now home to the newly built Albion Riverside…
Read MoreRiver Playground
“My dad worked the graveyard shift, so my mom took care of us, but my mom was busy oftentimes at the sewing machine meeting her deadlines. We got to go play when we didn’t have to support her.” Helen Leung cherished the moments when she and her sister were given free reign to explore the…
Read MoreMaking Art in Elysian Valley
For nearly thirty years, from 1980-2010, Chicano artist Frank Romero worked out of a colorful brick studio and gallery in Elysian Valley. It was here where Frank’s art universe of bright cars, looping freeways, staggering palm trees, and brightly colored canvases came to life. It was also here where Frank found a new muse in…
Read MoreThe Story Behind the “Orange Bridge” Pt.1
Over the years, many pedestrian bridges have popped up along the Glendale Narrows section of the Los Angeles River in Northeast LA. One bridge has a pointy mast that soars 60 feet into the sky, another is full of love locks rivaling the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris. The newest addition? A bright orange…
Read MoreThe Story Behind the “Orange Bridge” Pt. 2
The Taylor Yard Bikeway and Pedestrian Bridge, better known as the “Orange Bridge,” is not easy to miss, but many overlook the history behind it. Although it was just completed in 2022, the story behind this bridge goes further back. Part 1 of this tale recounts shady practices by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority…
Read MoreLa Madre Monte and El Mohan
Many of us grow up hearing stories passed down from generation to generation. Mythology can be an especially powerful force in our youth, inviting us to consider — sometimes for the first time — the interconnectedness of all things and the repercussions of our actions. For LA-based artist Carolina Caycedo, these narratives materialized quite literally…
Read MoreA Glassell Park Story
A more than twenty-year resident of Glassell Park, Helene Schpak understands that civic engagement is an essential part of healthy community living. “It’s giving back. It’s being part of a society, part of a community. If you care, sitting back isn’t going to accomplish anything. Pace yourself and volunteer, put in some effort, and sometimes…
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