Pine Avenue Park Opens in Maywood

A new park was opened today in Maywood, one of the most densely populated cities in the western United States. The Trust for Public Land, the leading organization for creating parks and playgrounds in communities around the nation, announced the new park.

In the past 120 days, the 6,600 square foot property at Pine Avenue and 53rd Street was turned from a vacant lot into a park with a California King Snake theme. Pine Avenue Park includes a grassy play area, native plant garden, picnic areas, and water features designed for play. The Trust for Public Land and Union de Vecinos led an extensive community outreach and participatory design process to design the park with neighborhood residents.

"This community has more than 27,000 people in just over one square mile and it doesn't have enough parks," said Carolyn Ramsay, the Los Angeles director of The Trust for Public Land. "We're pleased that we could help provide a place for families and children to get outside. This park fills a real need in Maywood."

This is the first design and development project the Los Angeles office of The Trust for Public Land has spearheaded but the organization has been working in Los Angeles County for decades, helping to conserve nearly 12,000 acres and install Fitness Zones at 29 parks throughout the county. TPL is in the process of developing five other parks throughout Los Angeles. Funding for the project was provided by the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) and MetLife Foundation.

"Building livable communities is a cornerstone of MetLife Foundation's work," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "Residents of all ages benefit from accessible outdoor spaces to enjoy recreational activities and nature. We are pleased to join The Trust for Public Land and its partners in creating this new community resource designed by Maywood residents."

"Helping to fund this park was another opportunity for the RMC to work with our partners in creating another project that took unused open space, put it through a transformation to make a neighborhood amenity that will be full of life by using what's natural to the area," said Mark Stanley, executive officer of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy." Amenities include native landscaping, rest areas, and active features for the little ones. It gives me great joy to see this park completed and for the agency to be part of providing this park to the community."

The Trust for Public Land led a public-private partnership to build the park that included the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, MetLife Foundation, the City of Maywood, Union de Vecinos, Padres Unidos de Maywood, and community residents.

The Trust for Public Land, created in 1972, conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. It is the nation's leading organization for creating parks in cities and creating local funds for land conservation and parks. TPL depends on the support of individuals, foundations, and corporations. In Los Angeles County, TPL has created or improved more than 100 neighborhood parks and natural areas.