Undoing Damage To The L.A. River

The Los Angeles River can be considered either the most neglected or the most scrutinized and engineered waterway in the nation. Long entombed in concrete, the river is gaining a new lease on life thanks to a master plan process that seeks to reinvent the resource.

2 minute read

March 25, 2006, 7:00 AM PST

By Josh Stephens @jrstephens310


"This effort is by far the most comprehensive. It covers the entire course of the river through the city, which is about 60 percent the total length of the river. So you can begin to think about these larger issues. Up to now, the accomplishments have amounted to a small number of park spaces along the river."

"This plan will not only deal with creating park spaces but will also deal with flood detention, wetlands restoration, water quality, and development. We see parkland creation as working quite well in areas where the river is still heavily industrialized."

"There are tremendous opportunities for redevelopment in those areas and creation of entertainment zones, apartments, lofts, more housing along the edges of the riverfront parks. This is a pretty big plan, and as far as I can tell, the team in charge is up to the task."

"We issued our first report, which, hopefully will be an annual report, on the water quality of the river. Its title is, 'Towards a Swimmable, Fishable, Boatable River,' and that’s our goal. We want the river to be healthy enough that the steelhead trout run can resume after it's been cut off for the last 75 years or so. That's obviously a hard goal to reach, but on the way to that, we can have a much healthier river."

Thanks to Josh Stephens

Tuesday, March 21, 2006 in The Planning Report

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 30, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

The mayor of Baltimore speaks into a microphone in front of a rally for more state transportation funding from Maryland.

‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan

Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.

October 2, 2026 - Baltimore Sun

A rendering of the waterfront development, which shows a lit-up stage by the waterfront and people walking about.

Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment

Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.

October 2, 2026 - ABC 7

A narrow road with signs for bike lanes with a mural of flowers in the background.

This Boston neighborhood is filling its roads with obstacles — intentionally

Somerville is embracing ‘extreme street makeovers’ to make its roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

30 minutes ago - Boston Globe

A rendering of the courthouse. The middle section is glass, the far left and right pillars are white.

Planned $2 billion courthouse in MA sparks tension with local government

Springfield owns an essential piece of the land developers intend to build on, and some city officials do not want to see the project come to fruition.

October 5 - Boston Globe

A person installing solar panels on a wall. The panels are tilted slightly, the head of the person is hidden under one of them.

Californians can now transform balconies into power generators

Gov. Gavin Newsom has legalized plug-in solar technology, which allows residents to plug solar panels directly into their outlets

October 5 - Grist

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.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design