Other entries on parks in Los Angeles on this site have already established that the city suffers from a lack of adequate park space in relation to it's massive size. This fact belies the stereotype that Los Angeles is an open space and outdoor enthusiast's paradise, with great weather to enjoy it year-round. The reality is that the inner-city of Los Angeles is a densely-populated metropolis with little in the way of preserved parks or open space, and much of the city's population does not have access to the massive amount of open space on the coastline or the outer edges of the city. This is the main reason why Vista Hermosa Natural Park is an incredibly important new resource in the city. It provides a valuable open space outlet on the western gateway to downtown to a larger community that desperately was in need of one.
Vista Hermosa holds the distinction of being the first public park built in the core of Los Angeles in over one hundred years. Opening in the summer of 2008, the park is a welcome new addition to the city, and has been well-received since its inception. The park is now a favored green space in the city, and features stunning views of the city's famous skyline. It is relatively small in size at 10.5 acres, but it fills an incredibly needed niche. The park provides a slice of Southern California natural beauty in the heart of an area dominated by lack of open space and a heavily minority working-class population. It helps to fulfill the park void in a city where only a third of its residents live within a quarter-mile of a park, according to a 2004 Trust for Public Land study. It is facts like that that make the city one of the most park-deprived urban centers in America, which is unfortunate due to the incredible potential, geography, and climate of the area.
The park sits on a plot of land that had been the subject of land use and political battles for over a decade before development of the park. When it was finally decided to be used as parkland, the park was designed as a model for urban sustainability and revitalization within the city. It was also the result, as parks like these so often are, of a public-private partnership between the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and The City of Los Angeles, as well as various private funding sources and a grant from United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The park combines a modern design with preserving historic natural qualities of the region. The park successfully restored much of the natural topography and vegetation of the area, as it features, trails, streams, meadows, oak savannahs, all interspersed with native Mediterranean vegetation. The park also provides an environmental education center which promotes the native life of the park as well as the green technology. The design process sought to maximize energy efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. The result is that the park is a self-contained watershed filled with permeable surfaces and green roofs on all structures. All of the water in the park is captured and re-used to water the park during prolonged droughts, which are regular occurrences in Los Angeles.
In the end, Vista Hermosa Park is a valuable asset for the city. It combines creation and preservation of open space with forward-thinking green technology that will help in sustaining the park's presence. Moreover, it allows urban-dwelling Los Angeles residents with little mobility access to attractive public park space. The city finally seems to be getting the right idea in regards to parkland, and Vista Hermosa is a great step forward.
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