From The Office of Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez
CIFD joined L.A. City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, the L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks, and community members to celebrate the opening of a new playground at MacArthur Park. The playground, which broke ground in November 2023, offers a new space for children and families to gather, play, and connect with one another. The community event featured music and activities for children and brought together residents from across the neighborhood alongside City departments, community-based organizations, and parks advocates.
The newly opened playground is located at the southwest corner of the park, near the intersection of 7th Street and Park View, in an area of MacArthur Park that has been underutilized. It contains swings, slides, a three-dimensional net climber structure, resilient rubber surfacing, benches and more. The park is currently divided in two by Wilshire Boulevard, and while the northern half includes an amphitheater, bandshell, soccer fields, and a recreation center, the southern portion has lacked the same amenities.
More than $1.3 million was allocated to this project from the Community Development Block Grant, which CIFD is proud to administer.
“This park is located right in the middle of one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the entire City and County of Los Angeles,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “The vast majority of our residents in this neighborhood live in apartments that don’t have access to green space in the form of a front yard or backyard. Today, we are activating another piece of this park and opening up more space for families and children to gather and play.”
"Today marks a significant milestone as we proudly unveil the new playground to the community for them to enjoy with friends, families and neighbors," said Jimmy Kim, General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks. "We believe that parks bring communities together and we take pride in ensuring our parks are safe, accessible and inclusive for every Angeleno."
"The mission of the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) is to align and augment community investments for families and neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles and create opportunities for all Angelenos to prosper," said Abigail R. Marquez, General Manager of the Community Investment for Families Department. "The completion of the MacArthur Park playground is a direct reflection of our commitment to collaborate with City departments and community residents to enhance green spaces, which create a more resilient and equitable city. Thank you to Councilmember Hernandez for her vision to bring vibrant parks to Council District 1 and for her partnership with CIFD.”