What's in a Park Name?

Many parks across the country are named to honor prominent people. Here are a few examples in Los Angeles with interesting histories and stories.

1 minute read

May 10, 2022, 8:00 AM PDT

By Clement Lau


Griffith Park entrance sign, Los Angeles

Los Angeles parks are named for a variety of historical figures—some with more colorful lives than others. | Alex Millauer / Griffith Park, Los Angeles

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. 

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 in Los Angeles Times

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