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Five awesome things about the new Echo Park Lake

Earlier this month, we shared some excellent news on Twitter and Facebook – Echo Park Lake will be officially and finally opening to the public on June 15! Although this is about a month later than we expected, the project is on time and under budget at $45 million (originally $85 million).

At a news conference/media preview of the lake earlier this month, elected officials and project heads shared thoughts on the project: “This has been an iconic setting for film, for literature, for art, for countless movies,” said L.A. mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti. “And like the surrounding neighborhood the park has fallen on some tough times. But the true beauty of Echo Park is reflected not just Echo Park itself, this lake, but the entire community here today.”

When the gates do open at Echo Park Lake on June 15, we think everyone will like the changes. Here are our top five favorite things about the new Echo Park Lake:

 1) The new Lotus bed

The Lotus bed is back in its original location

Back in its original spot, the Lotus bed started getting greener just last month when the Lotus leaves popped up above the water level. While the netting will remain over the plants for about a year to prevent birds from eating all the new plants, the Lotus blossoms have started to bloom, about a year ahead of schedule!

2) The Boathouse will be back

As soon as the city decides on what vendor to bring in (we vote for Homegirl Cafe!!), the boathouse will not only be a fully operating kitchen, it will also support the peddle boats once again! At next year’s Lotus Festival, the dragon boats will also launch off of the Boathouse’s deck.

3) The Boardwalks/Observation decks

There are two boardwalk-style structures around the lake that act as observation decks – one on the north end is a large wooden deck overlooking wetlands, the other on the West end is a concrete deck. Both have benches and some signage on the information of the lake, and are definitely going to be the coveted spots to chill.

Boardwalk on the North end of the Lake

Boardwalk on the West end of the Lake

4) The birds return!

Bird protecting its nest!

Although the number of birds declined at last December’s bird count, over the years there have been over 70 species of birds counted at the lake. Now that there is plenty of water and potentially lots of food, we expect a number of them to return – in fact at the media preview this month, we spied one with its next just at the shore!

5) The Festivals

The number one question we get asked every year is when the Lotus Festival and when the Cuban Music Festival will be celebrated at the Lake. Unfortunately this year there will be no festivals as the new sod needs some time to establish. But next year we can count on the famous dragon boat races and more!

Lotus Festival in 2011

Want to see more photos of the Lake? Click here to visit our Facebook album.

See you at the grand opening at June 15!

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Dog park coming to Echo Park Lake adjacent lot… or is it?

Photo courtesy of Josh Anderson

According to some flyers and a new banner posted at a vacant lot near Echo Park Lake, the neighborhood is getting a dog park. Mayyyyybe.

A quick call to the community relations office of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, which is clearly listed on the banner in the photo above, and it turns out they are not putting up a dog park on Echo Park Avenue near Laguna Avenue, or anywhere for that matter.

“The idea had been floated at one time,” said Canon for Community Relations Bob Williams, “but the Diocese has no intention of putting in a dog park.”

So who is really behind the “Coming soon” banners and flyers?

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Echo Park Art Walk map!

Click for map

Today is the 4th annual Echo Park Art Walk!

Starting at noon today, there will be art exhibits, sidewalk chalk, workshops, kids activities, live music, food, special discounts in stores, and live performance art all over Echo Park.

Additionally, this year Art Needs Freedom is collaborating with Elysian Heights Elementary School, so there will be a lot of stuff going on there!

So much great stuff going on – the map is dizzying! Click here to download your own map of the festivities.

See you there!

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Echo Park Lake getting greener

Spring brings many shades of green and other colors to the landscape of Echo Park, but in the nearly two years that Echo Park Lake has been under construction there’s been a lot more dirt and a lot less green.

That is, until last week. Last week workers started laying sod along the west end of the lake, a welcome site for those of us anxious for the lake’s reopening next month.

In addition to the sod, you’ll also notice the lotus leaves starting to pop up just above the water level. Although they might not blossom until next year, there are some blossoming water lilies on the east side of the lake that are adding some more color to the landscape.

h/t Above the Lake

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Will street vendors return to Echo Park Lake?

Swap meet vendors back in 2010

Before Echo Park Lake was drained, before the gates went up around its perimeters, the lake wasn’t just a hub for families and picnickers to enjoy. Sunday afternoons were often host to street vendors on the grass alongside the sidewalk, wrapping around the entire northern section of the park. While many enjoyed shopping for a variety of new and used items, others found the vendors to be invasive, taking over valued park space and leaving loads of litter behind.

The mass of street vendors wasn’t just an issue at Echo Park Lake, it’s all over the city. Today, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors is reviewing a motion to strengthen the crack-down on street vendors, which are, after all, illegal. But it’s also more than just about the legality – it’s an enforcement issue, a race and class issue, a tax issue, and a business issue. At Echo Park Lake, it also became a safety/crime issue as witnesses have reported seeing armed men portioning out and selling spaces for $20-40 the night before.

The proposal wouldn’t affect the occasional yard sale, but specifically addresses illegal street vendors including those bacon-wrapped hot dogs and pushcarts.

With Echo Park Lake re-opening in mid-May, the question is: Will the street vendors return, and will the city crack down on the activity if they do?

Related articles:

  • “Police try a new strategy to sweep out Echo Park Lake swap meet vendors.” August 8, 2010, The Eastsider LA
  • “Vendors at Echo Park Lake get the boot.” August 1, 2010, Echo Park Now
  • “The many facets of the Echo Park Lake swap meet.: March 24, 1010, Echo Park Now
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Echo Park beautification project meeting on Tuesday

Residents should attend a meeting on the Sunset Boulevard beautification project on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 pm.

This is your chance to learn about the $750,000 beautification project that stretches along the main drag in Echo Park. Plans include pocket parks, tree planting, and even hitching posts on Alvarado and Sunset.

Sunset Blvd. Streetscape Beautification Project Meeting

Tuesday, April 9, 2013
6:30 – 7:30 pm

Edendale Library – Community Room
2011 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026

See you there!

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Opening Day and more Dodgers news

The new Dodgers season is upon us!

For Echo Parkians, however, baseball season is bittersweet. It’s GREAT to be able to walk to the games and we love being Dodgers fan, but the traffic and the noise and fighting for a seat at the sports bars before the game…. Well, it can get a little hectic.

Opening Day

Opening Day is the worst. So prepare yourself. On Monday, April 1 the Dodgers take on the San Francisco Giants once again. Here are some details for opening day:

  • Pregame ceremony starts at 12:10 pm and will include a one minute fireworks display at 1:00 pm
  • Parking gates and stadium gates will open at 10:00 am
  • Street closures are as follows: Scott Avenue between Stadium Way & North Boylston Street; North Boylston between Academy & Stadium Way; Lilac Terrace between Stadium Way & Lookout to Stadium
  • The a-frame signs (“Local Access Only”) will be placed throughout the neighborhood
  • Early LADOT staffing at Sunset/Elysian Park & Academy/Golden State Gate C areas
  • Police officers will be monitoring all activity with a zero tolerance policy in mind
  • Scott Avenue gate will be open on opening day, but for exit traffic only

Report any non-emergency security concerns to our Neighborhood Focus line at (323) 224-2636.

Stadium Renovations

There have been a lot of changes at the Stadium, including installation of a sophisticated wi-fi network (YES!), a new clubhouse, and new “amenities” on all levels (we think that means restrooms).

All the renovations will debut at tonight’s Exhibition Game versus the Angels, which starts at 7:10 pm.

Craft Beer!

Admittedly the most exciting rumor circulating around Twitter isn’t the renovated restrooms (although that’s awesome). It’s the BEER! Word is Golden Road Brewing will be on tap, finally introducing craft beer to the craft services at the stadium (by the way, Shock Top is not craft beer).

With the growing craft brewery scene in Los Angeles, we hope this is just a starting point for Dodger Stadium to start supporting local craft beer. We’ll toast to that!

This should be an exciting year – with all the roster changes, fans are hoping this will be a winning year and the high ticket sales are reflecting just that. See you at the stadium!

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Easter bunny + egg hunts at the Echo Park Farmers’ Market

Echo Parkian Peter Lassen and the Easter bunny at the Echo Park Farmers’ Market in 2012

The annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Echo Park Farmers’ Market takes place on Friday, March 29.

The craft table will help the kids prepare bunny ears to wear for the egg hunt, and the Easter Bunny will be on hand to take photos (bring your cameras!).

Toddlers ages five and under will start at 5:00 pm, ages six and over at 6:00 pm.

If you’re not able to make it with the family to the hunt on Friday, check out the Saturday egg hunt with the Echo Park Rec Center.

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4th Annual Echo Park Art Walk call for participants

The 4th annual Echo Park Art Walk (Public Displays of Art) is taking place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from noon to 6:00 pm. This year is a little different – the Art Walk is collaborating with the Friends of Elysian Heights for some extra fun:

The mission behind this event is to “connect and celebrate community” and to share the neighborhood culture with locals and visitors alike.  In collaboration with Friends of Elysian Heights Elementary School’s “Art & Music Festival,” this year’s event is made possible by support from local businesses, schools, artists, musicians, neighborhood organizations, community members and residents.

Explore and discover whimsical chalk art, chain link fence galleries, an art piece scavenger hunt, kids activities, driveway theaters, movie screenings, hands on crafting stations, sculptures, musical and dance performances, live art works, special store promotions and other various creative & mind stimulating public displays of ART!

Last year, over 70 venues and artists participated in the event, and it was a lot of fun! Once again this year, the organizers are looking for volunteers and vendors to participate.

Click here to learn about being a participating venue, or if you’re an artist or musician.

Contact Heather if you’re interested in volunteering at heather@artneedsfreedom.com

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Echo Park’s Little Joy bar reopening Friday

Little Joy, the former dive bar on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Portia in Echo Park, underwent ownership changes and quite a few renovations since its closure last November. Now, it’s reopening a couple of days earlier than reported on Friday, March 29.

Owners Reyna-Donaldson (an Echo Park resident) and Don Andes have restored much of the bar’s original interior flare, according to a press release:

Little Joy has been stripped to its industrial bones and then carefully layered with a touch of Art Deco and a lick of rock’n’roll.  The building’s original brick and broken plaster has been uncovered along with a number of authentic details that highlight the location’s previous lives as a 1920s auto body shop, a mid-century pharmacy and ultimately, a bar beginning in the early ‘60s.

The pool tables remain, but one of the improvements we are personally looking forward to is the introduction of several beers on tap (eight, to be exact), a “rotating menu of local and hard-to-find brews.” Wines and cocktails will also be on the menu – and you can now leave the cash at home to pay with a card.

Gone are the peeling plastic-covered chairs and sticky tables, replaced with fresh bar stools and new booths. We doubt that Corona painting made it through the changes. One thing is for sure – Little Joy is no longer a dive bar, but at least the bathrooms are MUCH improved!

Related articles:

  • Echo Park Bar Owners Aim to Give Dodger Fans Some Extra Joy, FishbowlLA
  • Little Joy Sneak Peak: The bar is nice but look at that ladies room, The Eastsider LA
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Echo Park Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday

A couple of weeks ago we met the new director of the Echo Park Recreation Center. We are very excited that he is on board, and he seems very eager to reach out to the community about everything going on at the Rec Center.

First up, the FREE Echo Park Spring Egg Hunt. Families will be delighted with this event, taking place on Saturday, March 30 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the play area.

Egg hunt start times/schedule is as follows:

5 years & under: 10:30 am
6 years & 8 years: 11:00 am
9 years & older: 11:30 am

Activities include: Arts n’ Crafts , Face Painting, Music, Egg Hunts, and a visit from The Spring Bunny.

The Echo Park Recreation Center is located at 1632 Bellevue Ave. For more information, call or email 213-250-3578 echopark.rc@lacity.org

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Learn about Echo Park plants and trees on Saturday

Flickr Photo via Jodi K.

The Echo Park Gathering of Elders and Caregivers is hosting a walk on Saturday with certified landscape architect ad EP resident Michael O’Brien.

The hour-long walk will highlight the flora and trees of Echo Park; handouts will be provided. Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, and bring plenty of water. The event is free and open to the public.

Meet at 9:o0 am on Saturday, March 23 at Glendale Boulevard and Park Avenue.

 

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Echo Park Lake to re-open mid-May

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since we walked along the shores of Echo Park Lake, and it won’t be long until we can all enjoy it again. Last Wednesday was the final Echo Park Lake Oversight Committee meeting before the grand opening, where representatives from the Bureau of Engineering and Council District 13 joined community members in providing the final details on the project wrap-up.

The good news? The lake will reopen mid-May! Plans are to have a grand opening open to the public. A few notes on the rest of the items, including festivals, the Lotus blossoms, and more after the jump.

Read more

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Street closures in Echo Park for Sunday’s LA Marathon

The annual LA Marathon is hitting the streets once again this Sunday, March 17, 2013. As usual, there will be many street closures and restricted parking starting that morning – but plan on parking your car the night before unless you’re willing to scramble for parking as early as 4:00 am Sunday.

Starting at Dodger Stadium, the runners will first go down Elysian Park and Sunset Boulevard to Downtown LA before hitting Bellevue and Glendale Boulevard north along Echo Park Lake. Sunset Boulevard through Silver Lake will also be affected, so make sure to check the maps for street closures and timelines.

The marathon runners should hit Bellevue and Douglas in Echo Park around 10:00 am, so by the time some of us Echo Parkians roll out of bed things should be clear.

If you’re not worried about the street closures, be sure to have your earplugs ready. Helicopters (mainly news) hover for hours before and during the start of the marathon, arriving as early as 5:00 am and low enough to disturb  the neighborhood that does, indeed, exist around Dodger Stadium.

Also on the agenda is the LA Big 5K on Saturday, March 16 starting at 8:00 am.

Related links (via The Eastsider LA):

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The great Echo Park ficus tree debacle of 2013

It might be a little dramatic to be upset over a couple of trees, but if you’ve been around the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue, it’s obvious that the street has greatly changed for the worse with the removal of two mature, bushy and green ficus trees.

For those of you who have remained indoors for the last couple of weeks and thus denied yourself the beautiful outdoors of Echo Park, check out the before and after photos below:

Before. Photos courtesy of Rosie Betanzos.

Workers install tiny foot wells for new, much smaller, trees. These guys do not like having their picture taken.

A statement posted on the Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council forum by CD13 Field Deputy Oliver DelGado sums up why the trees were removed:

On Saturday, February 23, the Bureau of Street Services’ (BSS) Urban Forestry Division removed two Indian Laurel Fig trees from the northwest corner of Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. This was part of a sidewalk reconstruction project that was deemed necessary because of safety concerns.

Our office was not aware of the tree removal until after it occurred.  The community was not informed, either – the BSS tree removal policy requires a public posting of which trees will be removed and a public hearing only when  three or more trees are removed from a given site.

Our office contacted BSS’ Urban Forestry Division when we became aware of the removal. At our urging, BSS is planting new trees in the immediate vicinity, and the sidewalk repairs and new bus shelter are being completed in the next several days.

The key points here are:

  1. The sidewalk was damaged and dangerous – you can’t really get around that.
  2. BUT the BSS did not notify the community that the trees would be removed due to some self-constituted rule that the community didn’t need to know because there were only two – not more than three – trees removed. We agree with one commenter on the forum, calling it a “terrible excuse.”
  3. Echo Park is an involved community full of movers and shakers who seek real solutions, not cookie-cutter policies that neglect the best interests of the community. The BSS simply can’t get away with something like this without anyone noticing.
  4. There are new trees being planted that, from what we’ve been told, are not in-line with what knowledgeable community members deem appropriate.
  5. SHADE for bus-goers is a simple concept, one that can be provided by green TREES!

Concerned that other trees would be removed without notice, someone wrapped signs around trees on the other side of Walgreens along Logan Street.

So the trees are gone… it’s a done deal. But what’s next?

On tonight’s agenda, the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee will address the issue at 7:00 pm at Logan Elementary. The Echo Park Improvement Association is also keeping track, and in the coming weeks the Positive Energy Group/Crime Prevention will be holding a meeting specifically to address the issues of communication between city departments.

We’ll post more info when it becomes available!

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