Downtown Urban Park Plans Miss the Mark

Re “Urban Core Plan Gains,” Sept. 11: For years, city leaders and local developers have tried to revive downtown. I’ve watched with interest, yet downtown today remains much what it was 20 years ago: a place to leave at 5 p.m. and to avoid on the weekends. Spending $1.2 billion for a downtown park, especially when the funding for this project remains a “mystery” seems idiotic. The article states that this project will “boost area nightlife.” Great. But we already have vibrant nightlife downtown -- drug addicts, drunks and the homeless.

Griffith Park has hiking, biking and equestrian trails, a golf course, a zoo, an observatory and the Greek Theatre. How about promoting Griffith Park for what it is -- a huge and beautiful green space begging to be used? Or, here’s an idea: How about small “pocket parks” all around the city? Maybe in neighborhoods where people live? When people want to get outside, they’re not going to drive downtown and pay $12 to park underground just to feel the joy of sitting in the shadow of City Hall.

Judy Hyler

Los Angeles