Los_Angeles_State_Historic_Park
Los Angeles State Historic Park
State historic park in Los Angeles County, California, United States
Los Angeles State Historic Park, also known as LA Historic Park and the Cornfield, is a California State Park located near the Chinatown and Elysian Park neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The former rail yard and brownfield consists of a long open space between Spring Street and the tracks of the Los Angeles Metro A Line.[1]
| Los Angeles State Historic Park | |
|---|---|
An aerial view | |
| Location | Los Angeles County, California |
| Nearest city | Los Angeles, California |
| Coordinates | 34°3′58″N 118°14′4″W |
| Area | 32 acres (13 ha) |
| Established | 2001 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
This former site of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company's River Station (1876−1901) is considered the "Ellis Island of Los Angeles" where new arrivals from the East first disembarked.[2][3][4] Corn leaking from train cars and sprouting along the tracks gave rise to the nickname The Cornfield.[3] The 32-acre (13 ha) site was established as a California state park in 2001.[5]
In 2001, a 5-foot section (1.5 m) of the historical Zanja Madre irrigation canal was uncovered.[1] In 2005, the former industrial site was transformed into a productive cornfield for one season as an art project called "Not a Cornfield."[6]
In 2006, a contest was held in conjunction with the California State Parks Foundation to select a design for the park.[7] The preliminary park opened on September 23 of the same year.[8] Hargreaves and Associates of San Francisco won the competition.[9]
Development of the park has been slow.[10] California's budget deficit forced officials to scale back plans for the park in 2010, earmarking $18 million instead of the planned $55 million. Plans for a bridge, water fountain, theme gardens, an upscale restaurant, as well as an ecology center with restored wetlands were tabled. The tabled features may be added later if funding becomes available.[3] The park open with a campfire circle, restrooms and parking lot.
Numerous community fairs and gatherings have been held in the park. It also contains several plaques that relate the history of the Cornfield, Chinatown and Downtown Los Angeles.[citation needed]
- Rasmussen, Cecilia (July 13, 2003). "Pasadena's Gold Line will travel a history-laden route". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- "Los Angeles SHP". California State Parks. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- Pool, Bob (December 8, 2010). "L.A. State Historic Park plan downsized: State budget deficit prompts more modest project atop old rail yard near downtown". Los Angeles Times.
- Cheng, Sophia (2013). Community Organizing in Los Angeles Chinatown: Historical Case Study of the Cornfields. Asian American Studies 0100. (Thesis). UCLA.
- "California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks: 16. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Hernandez, Daniel (September 12, 2005). "'Not a Cornfield' idea is food for thought". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- Pool, Bob (July 31, 2006). "3 firms are finalists to design park at Cornfield Site in L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- Lin, Sara (September 24, 2006). "'Cornfield' produces park: Hundreds turn out to celebrate the open space where new industrial use had been envisioned". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- Pool, Bob (November 18, 2006). "Planting the seeds of a future park: The state names the winner of the design team that will transform L.A.'s 32-acre Cornfield into a swath of green at the edge of Chinatown". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
- Amter, Charles (October 6, 2007). "This park's a little green". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
Los Angeles State Historic Park.