Many parks across the country are named to honor prominent people. Here are a few examples in Los Angeles with interesting histories and stories.
Across the U.S., many parks are named after places or in honor of historical figures or accomplished individuals. This is certainly the case in Los Angeles. This article by Patt Morrison of the L.A. Times offers some interesting background and insights about parks like Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon Park, Vasquez Rocks, Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, Pershing Square, and a few others.
For example, few people would know that Pershing Square is named after General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, who pursued Pancho Villa’s forces along the U.S.-Mexico border a few years before going on to World War I. He led the American Expeditionary Forces on Europe’s Western Front in 1917 and 1918. The City of Los Angeles renamed the park for him in November 1918, a week after the armistice ended the war.
Read the full story: Griffith Park is named for a guy who shot his wife — and other true stories of L.A. parks
In Los Angeles and beyond, landfills and gas stations are the new public spaces
With scarce urban land, transforming overlooked and underutilized urban pockets into parks and green space it critical to meeting growing community, climate, and equity needs.
Disney Imagineers Join Effort to Rebuild Altadena’s Charles White Park After Wildfire
Disney is contributing $5 million and the talents of its Imagineers to help Los Angeles County rebuild Charles White Park and other fire-damaged Altadena parks.
How South Gate, California Expanded its Park System Against the Odds
With limited space and funding, South Gate opened three new parks this year through community-driven design, creative partnerships, and persistent public leadership.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
MTA gives itself 30 days to transform pit into basketball court
The site has been under construction since 2022; the city originally estimated it would finish the court in 2024.
Non-stop party: Chicago voters weigh permanent festival grounds
A stable place for bleachers, stages and drainage may streamline the setup and teardown of large events.
Metra may invest $9.1 billion in regional rail
The agency released a draft of a study examining potential ways to offer more frequent train service.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority