P.U. Blog of the Week: September 13-19, 2005

Recently a group of Los Angeles civic leaders formed the Grand Avenue Committee to create a plan for the redevelopment of several key Downtown blocks between the Civic Center and Bunker Hill. One element of this plan is refurbishing the large park officially known as the "Paseo de los Pobladores" but most commonly referred to as the "Civic Center Mall."

With the help of Google Earth, I'd like to share an image of the existing Civic Center Mall (click on it for a larger view):

For the record, I work in one of the buildings abutting the Civic Center Mall (the County Hall of Records). While I can certainly appreciate the existing park, it doesn't live up to its potential as an exciting, useful, and unifying public space for the entire city; it seems no one beyond us bureaucrats is even aware of its existence. There is much room for improvement.

Therefore I would like to spotlight Bunker Hill Park this week. It is important for the Grand Avenue Committee to seek public input as it plans to remake the Civic Center Mall; fortunately, seven bloggers are supplying it by posting their thoughts and ideas. I hope our civic leaders are paying attention.

I really like how this blog highlights the power the Internet has to be a compelling and participatory forum for ideas about public policy and urban development. Power to the people!