Los Angeles Park Project Delayed Until 2027 Amid Safety Concerns
The nearly completed Sixth Street PARC, a $60 million park featuring an amphitheater, faces an opening pushed back a year due to playground equipment installation issues and resident worries about its upkeep.
Los Angeles' ambitious Sixth Street PARC (Park, Arts, River & Connectivity) project, a 12-acre park developed under the city's Sixth Street Bridge, has seen its opening date pushed to early 2027. Originally slated to welcome visitors in the fall, the delay is attributed to scheduling changes for playground equipment installation, according to Many Nemick, communications director for LA’s Bureau of Engineering.
The $60 million project, primarily funded by California’s Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018, was designed to transform the area beneath and around the iconic Sixth Street Viaduct into a vibrant public space. The park features an arts plaza with an open-air amphitheater, soccer fields, sports courts, dog runs, children's play areas, fitness hubs, walking trails, and a cafe.
This delay comes amid growing apprehension from local residents and business owners who fear the new public space may face similar challenges to the Sixth Street Viaduct itself. Since its opening in 2022 at a cost of $588 million, the viaduct has become a site for graffiti, street takeovers, and vandalism, with copper wiring also stolen, causing some of its signature lighting to go dark.
Concerns about the PARC's future maintenance and security have been amplified by social media discussions. A viral Instagram post questioned how the park would be kept safe and clean, with commenters drawing parallels to the troubled MacArthur Park and expressing pessimism about the city's ability to maintain new amenities. Some Reddit users voiced similar anxieties, referencing the condition of the viaduct.
City Council member Ysabel Jurado has acknowledged these concerns and stated that her office is working to establish an inter-agency agreement between police, public works, and recreation officials to address potential safety and maintenance issues before the park officially opens.