Located between Koreatown and Downtown Los Angeles, MacArthur Park boasts a large, serene lake that appears peaceful and beautiful from a distance. However, up close, the park reveals a more somber reality.
For the past year, I have passed by MacArthur Park daily on my bus commute from Downtown to Koreatown, yet I never ventured inside.
When I first arrived in LA, my wife and I considered renting an apartment near MacArthur Park, as evening strolls in the park were a part of our routine.
But upon visiting the park, we were greeted with a nauseating stench. People in dirty clothes were sprawled under the trees, some in groups holding long, cigarette-like foil objects.
The area was littered with vape pens, syringes, butane cans, and lighters. Some individuals, bent over in rigid postures, stood motionless like zombies.
Later, I learned this eerie sight was due to fentanyl addiction, a drug often dubbed the “zombie drug.”
After witnessing this scene, I never returned to MacArthur Park. The smell was a problem, but the feeling of insecurity was worse. The unpredictability of drug addicts’ behavior made the place seem unsafe.
Recently, a plan to revitalize MacArthur Park and transform it into a large green space for citizens was announced. LA Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez (District 1), and park officials held a press conference on July 9, unveiling a $3 million renovation project set to begin next month.
The project, named “Reconnecting MacArthur Park,” aims to convert the park into a pedestrian-centered area. A key part of the plan is to close the road section of Wilshire Boulevard that bisects the park, creating a large plaza connecting the lake and the lawn areas. Additionally, $2 million will be allocated to establish shelters and provide services to address homelessness and drug addiction.
Mayor Bass expressed her commitment to transforming the park into a healthy and clean space for all LA citizens, calling the project welcome news for everyone.
However, residents near the park remain skeptical about how effective the renovation might be. For the project to succeed, the city government must first confront the harsh realities of the park.
Currently, MacArthur Park sees around 22,000 daily commuters due to the nearby Metro station at 7th and Alvarado Streets. The area is known for its high homeless population and frequent drug overdoses, with firefighters responding to about 20 incidents daily, indicating poor public safety conditions.
MacArthur Park has historically been a haven of nature within LA’s urban sprawl. From the 1920s, during Hollywood’s golden era, the park was a beloved retreat for LA residents. It was a vibrant hub surrounded by theaters, hotels, and restaurants, contributing to the city’s energy. It’s no exaggeration to say the park holds the “soul” of Angelenos. Richard Harris’ song “MacArthur Park,” which topped the Billboard charts in 1968, further cemented its national fame.
The park was designated LA Historic-Cultural Monument No. 100 in 1972. However, it began to decline in the mid-1970s due to gang conflicts, becoming a hotspot for drugs and prostitution.
This isn’t the first attempt to revitalize MacArthur Park. In 2021, during Councilmember Gil Cedillo’s tenure, a renovation effort with a $1.5 million budget included landscaping, bench replacements, and lawn repairs. Homeless residents were relocated to shelters, but the park quickly reverted to a refuge for the homeless and drug addicts, deterring ordinary citizens.
David Kim, who has run a chicken restaurant near the park for 20 years, lamented, “The park renovations are just a show by the government, with no real effect. After the 2021 renovation, the number of drug addicts and homeless people increased, worsening public safety.”
Renovating MacArthur Park alone won’t draw citizens back. It must be a safe, clean space, free from drug addicts and homelessness, to win the public’s love once again.
By Mooyoung Lee lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com
