Los Angeles' Pershing Square, a five-acre park initially opened in 1866, will undergo major transformations to accommodate the increase of families with children living in Downtown Los Angeles.
According to Donna Evans at LA Downtown News, two playgrounds will be constructed in Pershing Square as part of a $2 million makeover to improve and redesign the park. The funding comes from $1 million from the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department and MacFarlane Partners, the company developing a 315 apartment residence building a block north of the square, and the rest of the funds are to be raised by a new non-profit, Pershing Square Renew.
The initial money from the Recreation and Parks department will be allocated towards "short-term upgrades including the playgrounds, said department General Manager Mike Shull. A playground for 2- to 5-year olds will be constructed in the park’s southwest corner, at Sixth and Olive streets. The second playground, for kids ages 5-12, will stretch along Sixth Street. Each park will include climbing apparatuses and slides."
Currently, Pershing Square is criticized "for an abundance of hardscape, seemingly out-of-place architectural features such as a purple tower and a lack of green space... [and that the] interior of the park is difficult to see from surrounding streets." The city is attempting to address those complaints and make the park more welcoming and inviting through this redevelopment.
FULL STORY: Two Playgrounds, Other Improvements Coming to Pershing Square

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie