Cypress Park Plaza
Situated on the south side of North Figueroa Street, the one block length of Cypress Avenue is exceptionally wide - measuring approximately 90 feet curb to curb and 112 feet within the right-of-way. As this section of the Avenue only serves vehicles accessing adjacent properties and limited through-traffic connecting to the small neighborhood street of Arroyo Secco Avenue, it is exceptionally oversized from a traffic capacity perspective. By redesigning the street section, the project proposes to convert this additional space to be utilized for events and eventually become a permanent public park space.
The site of the proposed plaza/park serves as a gateway to the neighborhood commercial corridor along Figueroa Street, demarcating the transition from the double-sided commercial corridor to a more informal mixed commercial residential area. The site is also positioned between two educational institutions, Nightingale Middle School directly across on Figueroa and Loreto Street Elementary School at the end of Loreto Street. Two additional existing features play an important role in the convergence of pedestrians into this site - the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Arroyo Seco Highway (110) and the pedestrian tunnel, one block east on Figueroa, which has recently reopened as a cultural exhibition space with the support of local community.
The new plaza/park space would provide immediate access to open space, creating a flexible space for events, and an opportunity to link together the commercial corridor with the residential neighborhood. In the initial phase, the space can be transformed almost immediately with basic improvements that could include repainting the asphalt to distinguish it as a pedestrian space, protect it from traffic with planter elements as a separation barrier and populate the space with moveable street furniture to offer an outdoor setting for eating, gathering and weekend events, like a neighborhood Farmer's Market. With time and community input, a more formative installation can envision the space to be transformed into a simple raised median plaza/park, defined by canopy trees that shade more permanent plaza elements, play features and permeable spaces to gather and recreate. Strengthening the local pulse of creative talent, distinctive site furniture and art installations could be solicited by artisans within the neighborhood, further distinguishing the community's cultural expression.
Heightening the experience for pedestrians and cyclists through the inclusion of clearly placed bike paths and signage, increased seating, lighting, planting and multiple access points to the district including the pedestrian bridge that crosses Highway 110 would foster improved access to the space and support enhanced community activity of the new plaza; bolstering improved business to the commercial and retail properties along Figueroa Street.
Offering an open and flexible space for various events and capitalizing on the location of the already existing art underpass will increase the Cypress Park community's sense of the commons, shared assets, and civic engagement. Different scales of events including a farmer's market, art walk, food vendors, and bike ride launch point, the park would serve a variety of different users and needs from children and seniors to bicyclists. In addition, the new defined space and subsequent programming could cull visitors for the other NELA neighborhoods as well as greater Los Angeles.