Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, Los Angeles, CA

Mia Lehrer + Associates/ Civitas, Inc./ Wenk Associates,

Los Angeles, CA client: City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Engineering

Project Statement:

The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan represents the culmination of over 10 years of river revitalization activism, bringing together public agencies and stakeholders for a common goal. The plan shapes a bold vision to transform a channelized flood control conveyance into a significant regional recreational and ecological resource. The Master Plan signals a new era for Los Angeles, replacing infrastructure designed for automobiles and real estate investment with a public greenway corridor.

Project Narrative:The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan aims to transform 32 miles of concrete-lined River into public green space in the heart of one of America's most populated cities. Channelized by the Army Corps of Engineers over 70 years ago for flood prevention, multiple generations of Angelinos have grow up unaware of the river, or thinking that concrete channels with graffiti and shopping carts are the norm. In 2005 key civic leaders joined forces to fund a visionary and technical look at transforming the river into a new amenity, a source of socio-economic revitalization and a crucial step in the restoring green space the City of Sprawl.

Extensive analysis studies included transportation infrastructure, land ownership, property jurisdiction, open space types, hydrology, water velocity, groundwater basins, contamination plumes, youth density, zero car households, pedestrian gap, bicycle use were completed after the first four months.

The river is one of the few elements that cross geographical, economic and social boundaries in the City. Since the river has been treated as a single purpose flood control device there is little variation in the infrastructural character in any location. In other words, not much favoritism has been shown in enhancing the river in any area

The Master Plan developed the following goals with recommendations to achieve a long term, phased approach: • Revitalize the River• Green the Neighborhoods• Capture Community Opportunities• Create Value• Develop Community Planning Frameworks based on the River• Create a River Management Framework