Posted: November 30th, 2006

The City Project continues to implement a collective vision for the Los Angeles region to achieve equal justice, democracy, and livability for all. In the past six years, The City Project has spearheaded efforts for equal access to great urban parks, schools as centers of their communities, and related health services. We have helped the dreams come true for the Los Angeles State Historic Park at the Cornfield, the Río de Los Angeles State Park at Taylor Yard, the two square mile Baldwin Hills Park in the historic African American heart of Los Angeles, and Ascot Hills Park in East L.A.

We are continuing to work on greening the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers through healthy parks, schools, and communities, working with the Alianza de los Pueblos del Rio and others.

We are working with UCLA Prof. Judy Baca and the Social and Public Art Resource Center to restore and extend the Great Wall of Los Angeles, and create pilot projects for the Heritage Parkscape along the Los Angeles River.

We will promote shared places and policies for physical activity in schools and parks to help improve human health.

We are nationally recognized leaders in developing a new urban greening agenda that puts children and families first, and includes the needs of the Latino community in ways that no one else has.

Robert García started The City Project in 2000 and moved it to the Center for Law in the Public Interest that year. The City Project spun off as a project of Community Partners when CLIPI closed in October 2006.

Prop 84 $5.4 Billion for Urban Parks, Clean Water, and Flood Control

Prop 84 and other resource bonds passed in November 2006 will provide funding for urban parks, clean water, and flood control along the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and throughout the Los Angeles region. 80% of Latinos voted for Prop 84 to put Prop 84 over the top. The City Project will help ensure that underserved communities receive their fair share of these public benefits.

LA Times Focuses on Physical Education in Public Schools

Robert García was quoted in a recent LA Times article It’s a Stretch for Schools to Find Enough Space for P.E. by Howard Blume: “This is the first generation in the history of the country in which our children will have a lower life expectancy than their parents if present trends in obesity and inactivity continue.”

Fully 82% of the children in LAUSD public schools are not physically fit. The levels of obesity are intolerably high for all children throughout the region — ranging from 23% to 40%. Children of color living in poverty with no access to cars have the worst access to places for physical activity including parks and school fields. The City Project will promote shared places and policies for physical activity in school and parks to help improve human health.

Clean Water and Healthy Parks, Schools, and Communities

The City Project with the Alianza de los Pueblos del Rio has submitted Public Comments regarding the Integrated Regional Water Management Program. The City and County of Los Angeles and others can work together to comply with clean water and other laws through green parks and school fields.

Los Angeles State Historic Park Design Team

We congratulate George Hargreaves and Associates upon their selection as the design team for the State Park at the Cornfield. We look forward to working with them, the community, and public officials to design a beautiful park that serves the needs of the people as defined by the people.