Parks in Northeast LA River Neighborhoods

An assessment of transit access to park space for communities along the Los Angeles River.

Transit Access

Transit access is also an incredibly important part of equitable park planning because significant portion of transit riders come from disadvantaged communities who are less likely to live in areas with convenient access to open space. This is especially important in planning for larger regional parks which tend to be more isolated and can be difficult to access without a car. Transit access is also an important partner to pedestrian access, since a majority of trips on transit begin or end on foot. Parks with good transit access should have frequent and reliable transit service within a 10-minute walk. While designing new transit routes can be expensive and politically challenging, there are smaller ways that parks can improve access to transit like better wayfinding to and from transit stops.

Transit Access

This map shows the parks of northeast LA River neighborhoods and the surrounding bus routes and light rail lines near these parks. Most of the service in the area is run by LA Metro, but there is also LADOT DASH bus service along certain corridors.

Overall, a majority of the parks within the area are within close proximity (maximum 10-15 minutes walk) to a transit stop. However, wait times for different buses may vary greatly depending on the stop. Additionally, the size of the park a resident can access using transit varies greatly. The larger regional open spaces like Ernest Debbs Regional Park can be more challenging to access with transit because they're located further away from major corridors with bus service.

Good Transit Access:

Los Angeles State Historic Park

The park with the best transit access is Los Angeles State Historic Park which is easily accessible from the LA Metro A-Line, a light-rail transit service, and from five different bus services, including LADOT's DASH B line.

Despite its great transit service it was lacking wayfinding to and from the transit station. Ideally, there would be a sign directed those interested in the park towards the park from the station and one alerting park visitors to the transit station's location somewhere near the park's exit.

The Chinatown Metro Station Entrance is a 3 minute walk from Los Angeles State Historic Park making it one of the most convenient parks to access with transit.

Chinatown Metro Station bus stop for the LADOT DASH B Line. This is one of six routes that serves the area immediately adjacent to LASHP.

Bus stop along Broadway, on the hill above Los Angeles State Historic Park. The park is visible in the bottom right but the bus stop is approximately a 15 minute walk away from the park entrance.

Entrance to Los Angeles State Historic Park. Despite its close proximity to the Chinatown Metro Station there is no wayfinding directing people to/from the park. Ideally, the park or transit providers would provide some signage to direct visitors to and from the park.

Limited Transit Access:

North Atwater Park

One of the parks with the worst transit access is North Atwater Park which is more than a 10 minute walk away from the nearest bus stop. Transit access to parks can be more difficult to plan when the parks are located further away from major corridors that are more easily served by transit.

While it would not be feasible to run bus service to this park, its transit accessibility could be improved if there was better wayfinding directing people to/from the park and bus stop. Additionally, Chevy Chase Drive immediately adjacent to the park lacks sidewalks, making the walk for transit riders more difficult.

Entrance to North Atwater Park. There are no sidewalks adjacent to the park and visitors using transit need to travel 15 minutes on foot to get to the nearest bus stop.

The nearest bus stop to North Atwater Park is located at San Fernando Road and Chevy Chase. Despite its close proximity to the LA River and parks there is no wayfinding here for the LA River or the local parks.

The Bowtie

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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