At the base of the Sixth Street Viaduct bridge, construction of a new 12-acre park has begun construction by Los Angeles city officials.
The Sixth Street Park, Arts, and River Connectivity project, also known as “PARC,” officially began construction on August 5 with a groundbreaking ceremony led by the Bureau of Engineering and Councilmember Kevin de Leon. The $82 million project will provide five additional acres of space in the Arts District to the west and seven acres of new open space in Boyle Heights on the east side of the Los Angeles River.
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The park space below the iconic bridge was designed by landscape architecture firm Hargreaves Jones, while Michael Maltzan was in charge of the bridge itself. The “Canopy & Objects” design concept consists of three primary parts.
The eastern part of PARC in Boyle Heights will begin at the intersection of 6th Street and Mission Road and include grassy areas, picnic spots, a splash pad, and event space. Additionally, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and possibly skateboarding courts and fields are in the proposals.
Cost of the Sixth Street Viaduct park
The $588 million PARC will have a new Arts Plaza and River Gateway with space for concerts, a cafe, and restrooms across the L.A. River in the Arts District, at the corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Mesquit Street. In addition, Leonard Hill Arts Plaza, named for the subsequent developer who contributed money to the project, will be located on a 1.4-acre plot of land right beneath the bridge. The western section of PARC also has a performance lawn, a dog park, and exercise equipment.
The expected cost of PARC has increased throughout the years, like with many construction projects. The project’s cost is approximately $60 million. Grants given out by Proposition 68 are one of the sources of funding for the park.
