118th & Doty: The Process.
A dream denied was just a dream deferred.
Four years after then Mayor Guidi denied a park-poor community in Hawthorne a pocket park at 118th and Doty Ave, FLTS has helped secure a new one at a different location… but with the same address.
This struggle that began in 2005 ended with the land being sold to a developer, three homes built on one lot and no park. However, this battle propelled From Lot to Spot into the greenspace, land use equity world. It is seven years later and we have since opened one community garden, are in the process of a large greening project on the Dominguez Channel that will include native vegetation and a bike path, secured over $5 million dollars in funding for park spaces in park-poor communities, and are getting ready to start two new park projects in the cities of Lynwood and Lawndale. And it all began with 118th and Doty.
However, this 118th and Doty Pocket Park will be located on the other side of the 105 Freeway. The two parcels are almost identical: both are located where 118th and Doty Ave meet, both are left over right-of-way Caltrans property and both are a triangular shape.
FLTS conducted community design workshops in March –April of 2012 and incorporated community members ideas and concepts into the design: the pocket park will feature a waking trail, small playspace, native vegetation and solar lights.
We are incredibly thrilled to see this project realized. Park and recreation space is still desperately needed in the City of Hawthorne and we could not be happier to see the City starting to take the necessary steps to remedy parkspace equity in the City.
A dream denied was just a dream deferred:
118th and Doty Park opening in summer 2012
