LA River Gets Funding Stream

Few rivers have suffered as much as LA's much-maligned river. Flooding in the 1930s caused over 100 deaths, and $1 billion was subsequently spent to channelize it in concrete. In a surprising twist of fate, legislators approved $115 million to create a park and stitch together the River's greeneways. The largest allocation of the funding will go to purchase 60 acres in and around Union Pacific's Taylor switching yards, near Elysian Park, to create a state park. The project is a huge victory for the small but loyal environmental group, the Friends of the Los Angeles River. Governor Davis is expected to approve the budget.