Blogging Social Difference in LA: Week 10

In the TED Talk, "Greening the Ghetto" Majora Carter discusses issues of environmental justice, and her effort to bring green spaces to the low income communities of the South Bronx. Carter states that environmental justice means that "no community should be saddled with more environmental burdens and less environmental benefits than any other." Both Carter and David Harvey's "The Environment of Justice" claim that race and class are the best predictors in the location of nature degrading sites like toxic waste facilities as well as nature preserves and parks. Carter says, "As a black person in America, I am twice as likely as a white person to live in an area where air pollution poses the greatest risk to my health. I am five times more likely to live within walking distance of a power plant or chemical facility - which I do."

True to Carter and Harvey's theory, it seems that race and class are huge factors in the locations of parks in Los Angeles. South Los Angeles is a relatively low income area that according to the Los Angeles Times has "historically had less recreation space than other parts of the city." However, South LA has recently seen the opening of two parks, which mayer Villaraigosa claims is the first of more than 50 new parks for the city. The South LA Wetlands Park is a nine acre park built in the place of a former bus and rail storage yard that is a welcomed green space in the densely packed area. The park includes an artificial wetland that will filter storm water with bacteria and plants and help in cleaning up the Los Angeles River Watershed.

South LA Wetlands Park

Having arrived midday on a Saturday, I was surprised to only see one other person there. The park's main attraction are the kidney shaped pools with a snaking dirt path around them. There are informational signs describing the plants and animals often found in wetland habitats, as well as explanations of the storm water filtering process that takes place within the park. The lights lining the walking path are all solar powered, which shows a commitment to building a more sustainable community. (This also makes me wonder why everything in LA isn't solar powered, seeing as though its sunny maybe 360 days out of the year…) The park was funded partially by Proposition O, a bond measure passed in 2004, and partially by funds from the EPA's Urban Water Federal Partnership. 

Augustus F. Hawkins Natural Park

The South LA Wetlands opened this past February and therefore looks a little sparse as far as plant development goes, but this park was modeled after another artificial wetland only a mile away which I visited as well. The Augustus F. Hawkins Natural Park, which opened in 2000, was more inviting as well as lively. In addition to a fully developed, lush wetlands habitat there were grassy areas, BBQs, picnic tables and areas devoted to lemon trees and succulents. There were also more people at this park, mostly Latino families with young children. 

South Los Angeles has a high population density made up of 56.7% Latino and 38% African American residents according to the Los Angeles Times. It is great to see the city of LA investing in the wellbeing of areas that usually have more environmental degradation and less common space than wealthier neighborhoods. As Carter also mentions, the lack of parks in low income neighborhoods is a huge factor in the poor health of its residents. Hopefully these parks will encourage residents of south Los Angeles to be outside and active. Not only is it important to note the parks as an educational tool for children to learn about the animal species and plant varieties in wetland habitats, but also these parks can be seen as a tool for sustainable water, clean energy, and a welcomed addition to the ecological infrastructure of Los Angeles.