As habitat disappears and species populations diminish at alarming rates, re-introducing wilderness into our cities offers a means to not only offset habitat losses, but also demonstrate how we can coexist with wildlife in our urban environments. Building upon the site’s rich ecological and cultural narrative, the Master Plan envisions the new Park as a hybrid infrastructure that blends urban ecological systems with human uses, where traces of its history are made visible in the contemporary expressions of the community’s aspirations.
The Master Plan proposes to introduce freshwater wetlands and aquatic habitat for the first time in over 100 years, an ecology that was slowly erased to meet the needs of a growing Los Angeles and restores remnant woodland habitat from the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Woven within these bold environmental design moves are an extensive network of trails, a promenade, gardens, and flexible lawns for the community to connect with nature and one another.
