April 2006

In the foreground of a familiar downtown skyline lies 32 acres of abandoned land that will soon become Los Angeles’ first urban state park. This site, named the Cornfield Site because of its agricultural history, contains remnants of the zanja madre (mother lode) aqueduct, constructed in 1871, which supplied water to the Pueblo de Los Angeles. The land was also utilized as a pre-Civil War cornfield and for the past 100 years as a rail yard by Union Pacific Railroad.

Read Original Article at CA DTSC web site.

Several investigations have been conducted over the years with the most recent being conducted under the oversight of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) in 2000. An initial Preliminary Endangerment Assessment determined that further site characterization was needed. In November 2002, a Removal Action Work plan was approved by DTSC that called for contaminated soils to be removed. Contaminants found at this site included petroleum hydrocarbons, lead and arsenic. In February 2003, approximately 5,200 tons of contaminated soil was excavated and disposed of at an approved landfill.

Original reuse plans for the site consisted of construction of a light-industrial warehouse complex. However, with the dedication and perseverance of a public coalition of more than 25 community groups, the project was redirected to a more beneficial use for the Los Angeles community. In 2002, funds became available through the State Urban Parks and Healthy Community Program for the 32-acres to be converted to an urban state park. The surrounding community is fully supportive of the park project as it will provide a much needed recreational use for residents living near downtown Los Angeles.

As an outcome of the heightened community interest in this project, an advisory committee was formed to ensure neighborhood involvement and representation of other projects. Now under construction, the park can be easily accessed by the public via the newly constructed Metro Rail’s Gold Line Chinatown station.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 10:50 am and is filed under ●Brownfields Success Stories.

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