Plan for Koreatown pocket park moving forward
Densely populated, but lacking in green space, Koreatown could soon get a small new park in front of the Pio Pico branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.
On Monday, plans for the park took a step forward when the board of public works selected engineering firm AECOM to provide technical support for the project during its environmental review process.
As part of the project, the library’s surface parking lot would move underground and be topped with park space. Designed by John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, the park is set to include patches of grass, landscaped grounds, a dog park, play structures, shady overhangs, benches, tables, and a performance space.
The subterranean lot below the park would have at least 50 parking spaces, while 70 spots for bikes would also be added alongside the library.
Located just a couple blocks from the Wilshire/Western subway station, the park would add a bit of badly needed green space to the neighborhood. A recent survey of the neighborhood found that it had just one-tenth of an acre of park space per 1,000 residents. Across LA County, the average is 3.3 park acres per 1,000 residents.
Right next to the project, one of the most prominent patches of green space in the neighborhood is under threat. Prolific developer Jamison Services plans to construct a 36-story tower at 3700 Wilshire Boulevard, replacing a large landscaped lawn space that residents had long used as a makeshift park.