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An assessment of access to the Bowtie park along the Los Angeles River.
The Bowtie
The Bowtie
The Bowtie is a park project in partnership between California State Parks, the Nature Conservancy, and Clockshop. This park will take existing former industrial railyard land and transform it into new open space that will tie into the riverside network of parks and trails.
Source: California State Parks
The Bowtie is bounded by a railroad to the east (top), the Glendale Freeway to the north (left), the LA River to the west (bottom), and a Metrolink maintenance facility to the south (right). It is located just northwest of Rio de Los Angeles State Park, but as currently shown it will have no direct connection to the Rio de Los Angeles since the only existing entrances to the park are along San Fernando Road.
Existing conditions surrounding the Bowtie.
Pedestrian Access
Pedestrian Access
As currently depicted, pedestrian access will come from Kerr Street to the north via Casitas Avenue and Fletcher Drive and from Metrolink Central Maintenance Facility Road and the Taylor Yard Bridge to the south.
Access to this park will be limited by the active railroad line which sits along the park's eastern border. This railroad will limit the number of opportunities a pedestrian has to cross and access the Bowtie, so it is important that there is a lot of effort put into the limited pedestrian connections available at the northern and southern end of the project.
Ideally, this project should tie into the western side of Rio de Los Angeles State Park, which sits adjacent to the southern end of the Bowtie. Creating a new access point for Bowtie visitors to enter Rio de Los Angeles near the Taylor Yard Bridge will improve the accessibility of both parks.
Source: California State Parks
Source: California State Parks
Bicycle Access
Bicycle Access
There are a limited number of quality bicycle facilities immediately adjacent to the Bowtie so it will be important that the project tie into the existing facilities along San Fernando Road and the LA River Bike Path via the Taylor Yard Bridge.
The Bowtie will need to consider how it wants to permit bicycles from the surrounding area to travel through the park. The park should expect a significant amount of bicycle parking due to the popularity of the surrounding bike facilities like the LA River Bike Path and the Taylor Yard Bridge. Inside the park there could bike friendly trails that travel through the park and separate bike traffic from pedestrian traffic or there could be rules requiring cyclists to either walk or store their bikes when in the park.
Cyclists using the Taylor Yard Bridge to access the area just south of the future Bowtie.
Source: California State Parks
View of the LA River and future Bowtie to the right from the Taylor Yard Bridge. This bridge provides access between both sides of the LA River for cyclists and pedestrians.
Looking to the future Bowtie parcel from the other side of the LA River.
Transit Access
Transit Access
Transit access to the Bowtie will be limited to bus service along Fletcher Drive, a 6 minute walk from the northern end of the park, and San Fernando Road, a 10 minute walk from the southern end of the park.
There should be wayfinding to direct people towards the Bowtie and other parks from transit. This can assist people taking transit in locating the park and make people aware of the park who might not have known about its existence previously.
Bus stop near the southern end of Rio de Los Angeles State Park. This would be the nearest transit stop to the southern end of the Bowtie.
Future Advocacy
Future Advocacy
Residents and community groups in the Northeast LA River neighborhoods should continue to advocate for improved access to the Bowtie as it moves from planning to reality.
Some of the most important advocacy will concern:
Improving pedestrian and bicycle connections between the Bowtie, Rio de Los Angeles State Park, and the Taylor Yard Bridge. A new entrance to Rio de Los Angeles at the Taylor Yard Bridge/the Bowtie would greatly improve the connections to greenspace throughout the area.
Incorporating bike facilities into the Bowtie to account for the large number of cyclists that will pass through the area with the LA River Bike Path and Taylor Yard Bridge.
Improved wayfinding from transit stops to the LA River and the Bowtie. Currently there is no signage alerting transit riders to their close proximity to the River and its pedestrian facilities.
A view of the future Bowtie site looking north from Taylor Yard Bridge. Connection to this bridge and other bicycle/pedestrian facilities will be critical to the success of the park.
Questions?
Questions?
Contact gderleth@usc.edu to get more information on the project or info@clockshop.org for more information on Clockshop's work.
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