Los Angeles' Historic Pershing Square to Receive Family-Friendly Makeover

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.