On May 24, L.A. City Councilwoman Heather Hutt (10th District) introduced a motion seeking funds for the Pio Pico Library Pocket Park project in Koreatown, located at 7th St. and Oxford Ave.
The motion requests the Department of Recreation and Parks to perform environmental review work and prepare a report for the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners. The report will specify the actions needed to access up to $3.4 million in Quimby funds for the project.
Quimby funds are fees that developers pay to cities, which can be used to purchase and develop land or recreational facilities. However, under certain conditions, the fees can also be used to develop parks in other neighborhoods.
If approved, the use of Quimby funds could be a significant boost to the parks projects.
However, the problem lies with the project’s proposed cost. The Pio Pico Library Pocket Park project was originally estimated to cost around $15.5 million.
“We estimate that the park will cost $26.6 million to build,” Hutt’s office stated in a proposal announcement. The entire park spans 26,000 square feet, amounting to approximately $1,023 per square foot.
In just over a year since the Department of Recreation and Parks approved the project in May of last year, the estimated cost has increased by over $11 million.
“The projected cost has risen due to increased labor and material costs,” explained a representative from Hutt’s office. “This is why we are proposing the use of Quimby funds.”
This implies that if Quimby funds are unavailable, the Pocket Park project may face challenges.
The fact that the council seat remained vacant for some time has also hindered the project’s progress. Councilman Mark Ridley Thomas was convicted of bribery, and the Pocket Park project was postponed until Hutt assumed the role of acting councilmember.
A representative from Hutt’s office simply stated, “everything is still on schedule.”
The Pio Pico Library Pocket Park project has been in development since 2015, proposed by then-Councilmember Herb Wesson in response to public demands for more green spaces in Koreatown.
However, there has been little progress since then, and in fact, safety concerns have arisen due to the discovery of numerous syringes and condoms in the library parking lot, posing risks for children and residents using the library.
The new pocket park is designed by JFAK Architects. The library will continue to operate as is, while the park will feature a multi-purpose area for public events, a playground, a shade structure, a fitness area, a walking loop, benches, and tables.
Additionally, the project includes a new underground parking structure with 55 parking spaces.
BY INSEONG CHOI AND YEOL JANG [support@koreadaily.com]
