El Parque Nuestro Dedication June 16 2010

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CONTACT:  Angie Castro, (213) 703-2823

                                                                       

                                               

 

                  

             NEW “GREEN” PARK REPLACES BLIGHT IN PARK-POOR COMMUNITY

 

 

                        “El Parque Nuestro”, Named by Third Grade Student Opens as Fitness Zone

 

 

                                       County Parks Summer Fun Announced at Dedication

 

 

         FLORENCE-FIRESTONE (June 14, 2010) – Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina will

be joined by local parents and more than 100 elementary school students to dedicate “El Parque Nuestro”, a new “green” and fitness park opening in the county’s highest “park-poor” community.  

 

WHAT:          El Parque Nuestro Dedication

 

WHEN:           Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at 10:30 a.m.  

 

WHERE:       1675 Gage Avenue, Los Angeles, 90011

 

WHO:            

• Supervisor Gloria Molina
• Children and families
• L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Russ Guiney
• L.A. County Department of Public Works Gail Farber

 

BACKGROUND:  Third grade student Natalie Torres submitted the winning entry during a contest with Lillian Elementary School students to name the park. A little less than an acre, “El Parque Nuestro” gives the area additional needed park space following recently built public-private housing in the neighborhood.

 

Offering passive recreation and outdoor fitness, the new park is the first in the County’s park system to use recycled materials for benches and tables, and to include smart irrigation, solar lighting and a porous concrete jogging path. The park is also equipped with drought tolerant plants, play equipment, BBQ pits and fitness equipment. 

                                                                                                                            

Prior to “El Parque Nuestro”, the nearest park in the neighborhood was a mile away.  The $2.1 million park is funded by Prop 40 and Prop 62, and the property was purchased by the county as excess land since it was too close to a railroad and not suitable to build housing.  As part of Molina’s commitment to community beautification, the county has transformed blighted properties in her district into affordable housing and community parks.   

 

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