MacArthur Park has been a hub for many first arrival immigrant families, in particular from Latin America. Over the years, the park has also become home to unhoused people who have nowhere else to go.
Community advocates say those unhoused neighbors, especially, have a lot to lose if the city goes ahead with plans to build a permanent wrought iron fence around the perimeter of the park that would limit access to entry and exit points and shut out visitors at night.
The Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners, citing “public safety” and “quality-of-life challenges,” unanimously approved the $2.3 million proposal on Oct. 16 (commission President Renata Simril was not present at the meeting). The project has the support of LA Mayor Karen Bass and LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who both cited community concerns over safety at the park as the driving force for the project…