Is the City of Los Angeles finally getting it?

September 18th, 2009 4 Comments

By Alex Thompson

I was returning from my other girlfriend’s girlfriend’s in the hills and I stumbled on this sign:

Department of DIY post

A press release given to me by the masked man – V himself – proclaim a collaboration between the City and the Department of Do-It-Yourself:

In an unprecedented move, the City of Los Angeles contacted the Department of DIY to discuss community involvement for a new city park on the southeast corner of Wilshire Blvd and Vermont Ave. ‘Those of us who work for this great city’, said the liaison, ‘have realized the importance of public space created not only for, but by the people.’  Per the city’s request, the sign announcing the park was posted at the future location to coincide with Park[ing] Day LA.  She only asked that the following statement be included in our communication with the public:

‘For too long this city has been overrun by the automobile. A city with fewer automobiles and more pedestrians, cyclists and public transit users is good for our collective health and social well-being.  We applaud the people of Park[ing] Day LA for their vision, determination and hard work to make Los Angeles the great city we all strive toward. More public, green space is part of this vision. Please know that the city is behind you 100%.’

In their last collaboration the Department of DIY and the City laid down a bike lane on Fletcher Blvd and removed it days later, demonstrating the awesomely confusing power of a constructive people coupled with a backward government.

The text of the sign reads:

COMING SOON: A PARK FOR THE PEOPLE
The City of Los Angeles is pleased to announce the future home of the
Alprentice ‘Bunchy’ Carter community park in collaboration with
Park[ing] Day and their vision of a greener, brighter, more democratic
Los Angeles.

Facility Hours Of Operation:  24 Hours a Day/ 7 Days a Week

PERMIT-FREE VENDING
SKATE/BIKE PARK
100 COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS
WEEKLY FARMERS MARKETS
JOGGING PATH
MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS FIELD
Bike Station (bikestation.org)

Classes/Programs:
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
ARTS & CRAFTS
SENIOR PROGRAMS
NUTRITION COUNSELING

We want your ideas! Please fill out a card with your ideas for your
park and place it in the box.

For further information please contact Michelle Mowery, LA Dept of
Transportation, Senior Project Coordinator, (213) 972-4962,
Michelle.Mowery@lacity.org

Did Mowery’s heart grow three sizes??

Do your own Park(ing) Day!

Twitter Digg Delicious Stumbleupon Technorati Facebook Email
Campaigns
, , ,

4 Responses to “Is the City of Los Angeles finally getting it?”

  1. Enci September 19th, 2009 at 11:38 am

    Thank you, Alex, for posting this. We visited this DIY park and asked passerbys to help us throw seed–bombs over the fence. First they were hesitant, but once they threw one, they wanted to throw more. :-)

    We filled out cards as well. Photos will be posted on the Park[ing] Day LA facebook page, on the PDLA myspace page as well as the website, and of course we’ll also post some videos on the PDLA YouTube page. :-)

  2. Joe Linton September 19th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    very clever… reminds me of the Yes Men.

  3. Evan September 21st, 2009 at 9:02 am

    This reminds me of the Aqua Line subway line sign that appeared on Wilshire near the condo canyon about 8 years ago. A nice prank that made a point.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Wilshire and Vermont Park Suggestion Just Another Prank | Sell My House Fast - September 19th, 2009

    [...] Westside/Bikeside] Once the site of a proposed vertical mall and once the site of proposed housing project, and now, [...]

Leave a Reply