July 15, 2010
Grand Avenue Civic Park Groundbreaking Ceremony
Photography by Martin Zamora and Henry Salazar, L.A. County Chief Executive Office—Photo Unit

On Thursday, July 15, 2010, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Gloria Molina joined civic leaders, park advocates, local schoolchildren, and healthy living advocates to break ground on the Grand Avenue Civic Park in the heart of downtown L.A.’s Civic Center. The 12.5-acre, $56 million park will stretch from City Hall to the Music Center, with Temple St. and First St. bordering the park on its northern and southern sides. The park will feature a large lawn immediately outside City Hall for large performances and festivals. But it also will include smaller lawns, gardens, and groves designed for more intimate gatherings. A three-quarter mile promenade loop will encircle the entire park—and smaller walking paths will meander through magnificent garden settings. Additional amenities include new lighting, restrooms, and multilingual directional signage. The park is actually part of a larger transformation taking place at the Civic Center. It began with the opening of Disney Hall in 2003 (designed by the renowned Frank Gehry) which has become an L.A. icon. It will culminate in several years when two new Gehry-designed skyscrapers open adjacent to Disney Hall and the new Civic Park. Back to gallery