More Than Just Us

         South Park is more than just a residential neighborhood. It's also a transit hub bringing people in from around the city as well as an entertainment space that pulls people from around the world. Across four days, I set out to talk to those people who visit us to find out their thoughts on South Park.

         I was not surprised to find most visitors around the Crypto, LA Live, and Convention Center areas. The Biophysical Society conference spanned all four days of my interviews, but most of the visitors said they didn't have time to explore much beyond the convention center area. Those who did venture out were going no more than a few blocks for coffee or dinner. A similar approach was shared by the attendees of the Tyler, the Creator concert--a great friendly group but they were not here to do much else.   

         Only two attendees considered The Biophysical Society conference as a vacation opportunity. One, who was here with his wife and kids, said they planned to see Chinatown and Little Tokyo during their extra day. He also enjoyed taking the Metro, saying it was faster than expected, and planned to ride it again. Another convention attendee from Europe saw it as a chance to explore the entire region, adding on a trip to Las Vegas and Hollywood after the event.

         A couple of people came to South Park just to connect to transit, taking the E Line to visit family in Santa Monica. Another transit rider was excited to tell me how easy it was to ride the Silver Line into downtown. He takes it mainly for work but has also appreciated the renewed investment in the LA Live area.

         The most passionate interview was with Albert, a worker at the Moxy. He lives in Echo Park but sees downtown as his second home, so much so, I saw him three of the four days I went out. "When you're from the city, you gotta love the city. It's a must for any tourist. The Kobe Shrine. Grand Central Market. People love that."

         Another enthused visitor came to see the Laker show with his friends from Orange County. He says they occasionally come to see games but love the city itself: "With the weather and the vibes, there's no other place I'd like to be. Every time I come to DTLA it gets a little better, more people coming out. It recovered well from COVID." He waves his hand toward the crowds at LA Live Plaza and says, "look at all the people."

         A 56-year-old former LA resident passing the time on a bench at LA Live gave me a wider perspective. He had just dropped off his daughter at a nearby law firm. He looked positively upon the area considering how much it has changed over the course of decades. "I grew up around here and it was not good. No one came to downtown. But I'm glad they're cleaning it up." He would come downtown more often from Santa Clarita if the traffic was less of a headache.

         Whether living in South Park, passing through, or visiting, all the people I interviewed have found the best in our neighborhood.

By Justin Orkin