From his home on Mathew Street, Julian de la Rosa can tell that the new “pocket park” hasn’t seen much activity since opening in mid-February.
“It was a waste of money. I heard it cost $5 million. A lot of my neighbors are willing to pay for parking spaces. They should’ve addressed our concerns,” said De la Rosa, 52, as he was working on his car one recent afternoon.
The $5.2 million Mathews Park is the first Proposition 68-funded green space to open in the City of Los Angeles. City Councilman Kevin de León authored the Proposition, which voters passed back in 2018. The proposition committed to direct funds through a $4.1 billion bond to new parks in cities lacking green space and environmental projects throughout the state.
Although the severe need for parking space is evident, the park attenuates a just as critical issue: the dire need for more green space in Boyle Heights. The average acre of park space per 1,000 residents is 1.7, almost half of the city average of 3.3 acres per 1,000 residents.
According to a 2019 report to the Recreation and Parks Board, nearly 14,000 people live within a half-mile walking distance from the park, which is .19 acres and includes a playground, workout space, and fountain. Between June and July 2019, the Department of Recreation and Parks consulted with the community five times through pop-ups and charette-style meetings to better shape the park’s features and amenities.
According to department data, the community most requested native plants, a fitness center, and seating at the park.
De León has heralded the park as a win for Boyle Heights.
“It’s a fulfilling moment to celebrate equity and progress in a community that has long been overlooked on the issue of parks and open space,” de León said in a statement.
A few clothing vendors along Mathews Street were confused about the park’s accessibility. They noted the front gate with a timed lock and keypad and thought it was a park for residents of the new apartment complex on Cesar Chavez Avenue.
Joanna Reyes, a Boyle Heights resident who sells clothing nearby said she never considered the space was open to her and her family.
“I haven’t really checked it out. I’ve passed by it, but it looks closed, almost private. Maybe that’s why people don’t really know about it,” said Reyes, 38.
The fountain is the park’s centerpiece and incorporates colorful tiles with images of Loteria cards and graphics, visualizing the cultural heritage of the Mexican-American diaspora through maps and historical texts around the structure. The fountain has no signs of use, with cobwebs beginning to form around it.
The ground around the fountain is part geography lesson, part history lesson, as local landmarks like the 6th St. Bridge and Mariachi Plaza stand out while streets like Soto and 1st St. are woven through the mosaic as bright gold cuts through the stone. Mike Saijo, a Boyle Heights-based artist whose work often incorporates historic imagery, created the installation to celebrate the intersections and cultural history of Boyle Heights.
Saul Moran, 47, has lived in the neighborhood for about three years and saw the park come to completion. He’s seen a few people use the space since its opening.
At the end of the day, he said, the youth it serves makes the project worth it.
What’s the point of a lock? That just discourages people from using it. A park should be something you can walk through.