Vitalizing civic space with art and nature

Green space, park access, and trees

South Bay

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

22nd Street Park lies in a stunning location at the LA Waterfront in San Pedro, the southernmost point in the City of LA. Neglected since a 2010 remediation from oil tank farm to park, it suffers from a lack of maintenance and programming. This has led to safety issues and diminished community use. The site sits among a diverse group of neighbors: the busiest container port in North America, multi and single family housing, a marina, industrial buildings, and a blue tech incubator. San Pedro includes 83,000 residents. Of those living within a .5 mile radius of the park, 20% live in poverty. The Port receives 2 million annual cruise ship visitors. Global attention is increasing with the ‘28 Olympics and mega events. City of LA parks will soon benefit from resources from the Park Needs Assessment project, but this 25 acre park doesn’t fall under the same jurisdiction. This underserved park can be transformed into a safe space to connect diverse communities through through art and nature.

ArtPORT LA will upgrade underused civic infrastructure for enhanced public benefit by vitalizing San Pedro’s 22nd St. Park with art and nature. In alignment with recommendations from the recent San Pedro Connectivity Plan that identified public art installations at this park as a means to increase local connectivity and community engagement, this grant will support Phase 1 site improvements necessary to implement ArtPORT LA’s long-term vision. We will invest in improvements to specific areas of the park with the expertise of urban design professionals and our collaborator the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, who specializes in native habitat restoration. Phase 1 includes a needs assessment, site plan, plant identification, volunteer activation, impact evaluation, sustainable maintenance plan, community workshops and educational programming. The beautification process also includes ongoing collaboration with our partners at the Port of Los Angeles and City of LA to help facilitate procedures, direct resources that enhance park amenities, and advance opportunities for public play. Through community partnerships like these we are aligning missions, connecting resources, and amplifying impact for civic good by facilitating equitable community access to green space. *Note: the associated project image shows examples of the type of artworks that could be placed in 22nd Street Park.*

ArtPORT LA’s vision of a “Port for Art” will transform the Port of LA into an internationally-recognized arts and cultural tourism destination. In partnership with public and private organizations and community groups, this place-based legacy project will benefit millions of people, from residents to regional and global visitors. Project phases are designed to achieve scale in time to host major cultural activities leading up to the 2028 Olympics, while also developing a center for community and culture in San Pedro. Phase 1 site improvements seeded in the next year are essential to prepare the park for installation of art, and provide proof of concept for the next phase. Native plant life in the park will become more abundant. Park usage will increase. These crucial enhancements will condition the site to host valuable sculptures and secure support for this place to become a cultural hub for the Southern California region that can grow and be sustained into the future.