Wishing Tree Park in West Carson Grand Opening Scheduled for May 16
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Lorena Alamillo
(626) 224-0778, lorena@vpepr.com
A long-awaited community green space, including pollinator gardens, play areas, sports courts, a memorial plaza and more!
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 13, 2024) — The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust and the Del Amo Action Committee, are proud to announce the dedication of Wishing Tree Park to the West Carson community on May 16. This 8.5-acre park located at 20400 Budlong Avenue, Torrance, is the first park in unincorporated West Carson and marks a testament to the decades-long advocacy and determination of community members to transform an underserved site into a vibrant greenspace.
Wishing Tree Park boasts unique features that cater to the diverse needs and interests of the community. The park includes pollinator gardens, a small community building, children's play areas, a memorial plaza honoring community members, two futsal soccer courts, a baseball/softball field, a basketball court, a walking trail, and exercise areas. These amenities aim to promote physical activity, community cohesion, and environmental education.
"We are proud to officially open Wishing Tree Park. This moment is the culmination of over thirty years of advocacy by community members and dedication from our LA County Parks Department to bring much-needed green space to the unincorporated West Carson area. I cannot wait to see our residents enjoying this 8.5-acre contemporary park that will impact generations to come," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.
Wishing Tree Park is a much-needed addition to the underserved West Carson area, providing vital park access to thousands of residents who previously lacked quality open spaces nearby. This long-awaited project represents the culmination of over 30 years of advocacy by the Del Amo Action Committee and dedicated community members.
"Wishing Tree Park stands as a powerful example of how equitable park access and environmental justice can be achieved through sustained grassroots activism and collaborative leadership," said Norma E. García-González, Director of LA County Parks. “This investment of over $15 million creates a neighborhood anchor that promotes physical activity, community cohesion, and environmental education. It also addresses the significant green space inequity in unincorporated West Carson, where 76% of residents lived beyond the recommended half-mile distance from a park.”
“Wishing Tree Park, so aptly named, represents a collective wish fulfilled for a greener and more vibrant Los Angeles," said Tori Kjer, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. "We are thrilled to have collaborated on its creation — our thirtieth park and open space project in the County and a testament to our enduring commitment to community empowerment and equitable access to nature."
“Wishing Tree Park, 30 years in the making, is the park the community built with grit and tenacity. This is a victory in our quest for justice to the racist legacy that this community has endured for decades; a new beginning for this sacred spot so many died waiting for”, said Cynthia Babich, Founder and Director of the Del Amo Action Committee. “We honor their memory in Wishing Tree Plaza and have laid a firm foundation for the generations to come. Wishing Tree Park, the jewel of our community ready to serve.”
Wishing Tree Park boasts unique features that cater to the diverse needs and interests of the community. The park includes pollinator gardens, a small community building, children's play areas, a memorial plaza honoring community members, two futsal soccer courts, a baseball/softball field, a basketball court, a walking trail, and exercise areas. These amenities aim to promote physical activity, community cohesion, and environmental education.
"We are proud to officially open Wishing Tree Park. This moment is the culmination of over thirty years of advocacy by community members and dedication from our LA County Parks Department to bring much-needed green space to the unincorporated West Carson area. I cannot wait to see our residents enjoying this 8.5-acre contemporary park that will impact generations to come," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.
Wishing Tree Park is a much-needed addition to the underserved West Carson area, providing vital park access to thousands of residents who previously lacked quality open spaces nearby. This long-awaited project represents the culmination of over 30 years of advocacy by the Del Amo Action Committee and dedicated community members.
"Wishing Tree Park stands as a powerful example of how equitable park access and environmental justice can be achieved through sustained grassroots activism and collaborative leadership," said Norma E. García-González, Director of LA County Parks. “This investment of over $15 million creates a neighborhood anchor that promotes physical activity, community cohesion, and environmental education. It also addresses the significant green space inequity in unincorporated West Carson, where 76% of residents lived beyond the recommended half-mile distance from a park.”
“Wishing Tree Park, so aptly named, represents a collective wish fulfilled for a greener and more vibrant Los Angeles," said Tori Kjer, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. "We are thrilled to have collaborated on its creation — our thirtieth park and open space project in the County and a testament to our enduring commitment to community empowerment and equitable access to nature."
“Wishing Tree Park, 30 years in the making, is the park the community built with grit and tenacity. This is a victory in our quest for justice to the racist legacy that this community has endured for decades; a new beginning for this sacred spot so many died waiting for”, said Cynthia Babich, Founder and Director of the Del Amo Action Committee. “We honor their memory in Wishing Tree Plaza and have laid a firm foundation for the generations to come. Wishing Tree Park, the jewel of our community ready to serve.”
The grand opening ceremony of Wishing Tree Park is scheduled for May 16 at 5:30 p.m., marking a momentous occasion for the community. For more information about Wishing Tree Park, please visit https://parks.lacounty.gov/wishing-tree-park/.
About the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation manages 181 parks. It also operates a network of 9 regional parks, 38 neighborhood parks, 20 community parks, 16 wildlife sanctuaries, 8 nature centers, 41 public swimming pools, more than 200 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, and the largest municipal golf system in the nation, consisting of 20 golf courses at 18 facilities. The department also maintains four botanical centers: The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, the South Coast Botanic Garden, Descanso Gardens, and Virginia Robinson Gardens. The department also owns the iconic Hollywood Bowl, and the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, providing County residents with valuable entertainment and cultural resources.
About the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust
Founded in 2002, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (LANLT) strives to grow healthier, safer, and stronger communities by creating accessible green spaces in historically under-resourced neighborhoods in the Greater Los Angeles region. In partnership with residents, the LANLT works on the advocacy, design, and management of parks and gardens and offers opportunities for stewardship, youth leadership, and local programming. Across 30 projects to date, the LANLT has created over 21 acres of green space, enriching the lives of over 500,000 Angelenos annually.
About the Del Amo Action Committee
The Del Amo Action Committee, formed in 1993, is a 501(c) 3 environmental justice community organization. As stated in our mission, “We believe that everyone deserves a healthy and safe community to live in and that policy changes that promote environmental justice will lead to healthier communities”. This mission has led us to define and implement solutions to environmental health hazards in the community. Our current efforts center around measuring air pollution and its impacts on residents from several World War II legacy sites, including two superfund sites, a chlorine facility, a refinery, major freeways, landfills, and truck distribution centers. As a grassroots environmental justice community group, we are focusing on toxic waste issues plaguing our communities, especially community involvement, environmental health, alternative remediation technologies for toxic waste sites, regulatory agency compliance with public health mandates and land use. Lessons learned are used to positively impact environmental justice policy decision making. We empower our residents by sharing information on environmental health impacts in our community and avenues for direct engagement. DAAC teaches skills which enhance quality of life and minimize future exposure to toxins in the environment.