The Piggyback Yard Group joined a growing number of river-related organizations in hosting an informational table on Thursday, Feburary 23 at the livey Los Angeles River Update Meeting (RUM). 

The RUM is a repeating public forum to discuss progress related to the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan.  Held this time at the LA River School – a pilot school of the Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies – Dr Carol Armstrong from the Bureau of Engineering’s River Office emceed the evening, which prominently featured Councilmember Ed Reyes and Army Corps Planner Dr Josehpine Axt. 

The focus was on projects and policies IN PROGRESS, those which we may all be able to experience in the near future.  While these first efforts may be relatively modest in scale, the sheer number of them is exciting – from pocket parks to pedestrian bridges to educational events – and the energy was palpable. 

A bonus of the PBy group was seeing the Piggyback Yard / Mission Rail Yard publically listed by the Army Corps as a study site for their LA River Ecosystem Restoration Study.  The shortlist of study sites to pursue further is due out later this year, and it would be a windfall is Piggyback was one!

On April 14, Design Collaborative members Leigh Christy, Ben Feldmann and Marc Salette presented PBy to 50+ MGBC audience members interested in “Informing, Inspiring and Mobilizing Our Regional Network for Sustainability.”  The presentation focused not only on specific on-site design moves, but also how those moves might impact the City as a whole and encourage sustainable urban development within our existing fabric.  In this light, PBy was described as a multi-scale, integrated endeavor by a sovereign, collaborative group working not only on urban regeneration but also on strategies for implementation in order to “give legs” to the proposal.

Dozens of audience members stayed after the presentation to participate in a lively discussion on community outreach and implementation.  The need for additional public involvement as the project moves closer to implementation is indeed crucial in order to ensure that “place-making” serves as a community uniter and not another neighborhood divider.  Audience members encouraged us to continue to focus on the single human experience amidst the multi-acre planning.  The scale of this proposal is large enough to encompass multiple facets and still maintain cohesiveness; it isn’t whether soccer or habitat restoration or urban farming should occur, but how can these programs be designed, allocated and placed to best coexist?  Ultimately, the users of the spaces can and should take part in answering these more specific questions. 

On the other hand, the intent of the PBy work thus far is to demonstrate in a convincing manner that change at this scale is not only possible but necessary in order to create the sustainable urban environments individual Angelenos want and need.  Just as important, the intent of PBy is to spark discussion (virtual and otherwise) on how to bring about this process.  We hope our readers are participating in this critical dialogue as well…

 A recent letter of support from Robert Garcia, President and Counsel for the City Project, to Lewis MacAdams and Leigh Christy expressed “enthusiastic support” of the PBy vision and conceptual plan.

The City Project, a Los Angeles based nonprofit, seeks to achieve equal justice, democracy, and livability for all.  They carry out their mission by influencing the investment of public resources to achieve results that are equitable, enhance human health and the environment, and promote economic vitality for all communities.

 “The vision and conceptual plan for the Piggyback Yard Park reflects these diverse values,” writes Robert.  It also “reflects the resolution by the Los Angeles City Council requiring that River revitalization meet the needs of the people as well as the environment.”

The City Project’s participation in the PBy process encouraged the collaborative group to emphasize the needs of the people in addition to the needs of the physical environment.  Robert’s comments helped to bring the PBy purpose further into focus and led to the definition of our fourth principle: Community.

Robert closes the letter of support by saying that the City Project looks forward to “continuing to work with you to make the dream of the Piggyback Yard Park come true for all.”  Hear hear!

The Piggyback Yard Conceptual Master Plan has been conceived with the goal of helping to transform Los Angeles for the symbiotic betterment of its community and its ecology, creating a significant opportunity for meaningful interaction between people and nature.

At its core is the specific goal of providing extensive public access to the Los Angeles River, populating, revitalizing its banks, and creating thriving possibilities surrounding its presence, the availability of land, connectivity to multiple transportation modes, and the strategic location of the Piggyback Yard at the heart of the city. (more…)

For most of its history, Los Angeles has suffered from large-scale planning that has been singular in its intention – from water management to highway implementation to neighborhood division. These solutions have consequently had negative effects upon much of our natural environment: wasting resources, destroying habitat, and ultimately separating Angelenos’ connection to place and role within our indigenous ecology and urban situation. (more…)

Our vision for the Piggyback Yards is founded on four major principles; restore the Los Angeles River at the heart of the city while providing access to people and promoting sound water management; create significant public open space with a wealth of activities; connect to adjacent neighborhoods and bridge between east and west while maintaining all major existing railroads; build a diverse, vibrant community where people live, work, learn and play. (more…)