The Hush-Hush Gardens Of Downtown Los Angeles

Updated Feb 2014, novel materials added later on Union Station below...

I'm non going to endeavour to prevarication to yous or carbohydrate coat in, downtown L.A. is pretty much a dirty, depressing concrete jungle filled amongst all kinds of dissimilar characters.  At night, it pretty much becomes a ghost town.  Still, it's a large goal for tourists.

I've spent years here, exploring the area, in addition to every directly in addition to thence I come upwards across some hidden niggling gem.  Here are some of them, niggling bag gardens in addition to parks that yous wouldn't know were at that spot without looking.

Let's start off at Union Station because this is where yous should begin.  It's where the lite rail, subway, commuter rail, in addition to many motorcoach lines converge.  Chances are you'll larn inward in downtown here.

Union Station has 2 beautifully landscaped garden areas on each side of it's massive lobby.  The S garden is heavily tracked in addition to most people run across that.  Head out the northward side, however, in addition to yous come upwards across this quiet, walled garden amongst a tiled waterfall built into the wall.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bully identify to relax, meditate, in addition to larn command of your day.

ADDED FEBRUARY 2014

We'll start amongst this garden that's gone unnoticed patch I spied the larger gardens nearby. In improver to the principal plaza in addition to garden at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, if yous wander way around the back, over to where the large tower is, you'll abide by some other quieter in addition to smaller garden consummate amongst a outpouring offering a solitary identify of meditation.

On transcend of Bunker Hill, behind the Wells Fargo Center in addition to following to the ARCO building, sits this placidity park. It's also habitation to ane of the weekly farmer's markets hither inward downtown in addition to features a large, dramatic, in addition to sunken waterfeature amongst four waterfalls streaming into it.

Down on Hope Street, betwixt sixth in addition to 7th, the Chrisian Science Reading Room opens this garden to the world during their opened upwards hours.

A niggling farther south, exactly beyond ninth Street in addition to stretching from Grand Avenue to Hope Street is Grand Hope Park, a rather large slice of province amongst many shady nooks, fountains, meadows, in addition to flowers to meditate among.

Going dorsum north, exactly earlier 1st street on Hope, this rattling good hidden but form of dull infinite occupies the province betwixt 3 condo towers.

Between Union Station in addition to the county jail, at the southeast corner of Ceasar Chavez in addition to Vignes Street, this large lawn is inviting but also attracts it's part of homeless in addition to lately released cons from the jail across the street.



ADDED OCTOBER 2013

The Deparment of Water in addition to Power Building sits similar a fortress across from the Music Center in addition to at the transcend of the long ribbon of light-green know every bit Grand Park. You powerfulness hold off them to take hold some tips on water-saving plants, in addition to they do.  You tin banking concern jibe it out at their drought-tolerant, sunken garden inward front end of the building.

Over on Spring Street...well, genuinely betwixt Spring in addition to Broadway...Biddy Mason Park celebrates an historic L.A. figure at the dorsum porch of the historic Bradbury Building.


ADDED JULY 2013

Welcome to Downtown's newest park, Spring Street Park, on it's namesake street betwixt quaternary in addition to fifth Streets. It's a niggling less than an acre in addition to already the pro-dog in addition to anti-dog forces are at each others throats, to a greater extent than frequently than non because a skillful set out of domestic dog owners permit their pets run off leach in addition to don't alternative upwards later on them.

Still, it's a lovely niggling common amongst lots of nice, shady nooks to sit down inward in addition to a cool outpouring to meditate by.

Here's the rattling good padded playground for the niggling ones.

Over at Olvera Street, following to the old Catholic church, workers found bones, lots of them, hundreds of them, in addition to thence it was realized they'd found an old, forgotten cemetery.  The remains were re-interred in addition to directly nosotros take hold this new, memorial garden inward it's identify on Main Street, across from Olvera Street following to the church.

ADDED 8-24-2012

Not genuinely a surreptitious garden but upgraded from ane of our "forbidden" places below, stage 1 of Grand Park is directly open. The entire common volition stretch from the Music Center on Grand Avenue to the City Hall, 3 blocks west. Phases 2 in addition to 3 volition opened upwards inward the fall, inward the meantime, yous tin catch a drinkable in addition to snack from the onsite Starbucks in addition to splash inward L.A.'s grandest fountain.

North of Chinatown, stretching to the Los Angeles River is the Los Angeles State Historic Park...more usually known every bit the cornfield for an fine art installation of corn planted at that spot when the common source opened. Formerly the city's freight rail yard, the subway scenes from "Moneytrain" were filmed hither on a giant set.  Now, it's several acres of opened upwards infinite to larn lost inward that soundless needs to have its landscaping fill upwards in. Above, the common is inward the close distance every bit seen from the side yesteryear side Chinatown Gold Line prepare station.

Down on 11th Street, non likewise far from Staples Center is the one-time Occidental Building, which long agone used to locomote the tallest edifice inward town in addition to take hold a squeamish eating seat on top. I remember it belongs to AT&T directly in addition to the eating seat is long gone. At the world level, though, is this nice, meditative bamboo garden.

ADDED 11-16-2011

A create novel common has exactly been unveiled inward Little Tokyo inward the final duo of weeks. The form of stark in addition to harsh Toriumi Plaza sits where a portion of Parker Center's parking lot used to locomote on the corner of 1st Street in addition to San Pedro.

Designed to non locomote homeless friendly, nevertheless, at that spot are niggling gems hidden around the bamboo in addition to ginko landscaped common such every bit these shadow boxes embedded inward the sidewalk.

Here's some other Union Station surreptitious garden, ane I didn't know existed until I extended my walk a niggling farther than I always had before. In the extreme dorsum halt (east side) of the station, around in addition to behind the MTA headquarters building, is this niggling common filled amongst benches to sit down on, pretty gardens, fountains in addition to waterfalls.

Here yous tin run across the nice, stepped waterfall that leads downwardly to Vignes Street.

Between Spring in addition to Broadway Streets, midway betwixt quaternary in addition to fifth Streets, is this plaza that marks a walkway connecting Spring in addition to Broadway. With a set out of fast nutrient establishments side yesteryear side to it, it makes a squeamish identify to sit down in addition to take hold lunch.

ADDED 6-30-2011

The Little Tokyo Mall, at tertiary in addition to Alameda, is form of depressing inside, but walk through in addition to you'll larn to this converted alley that has dining tables in addition to a duo of pocket-size waterfalls.

This is some other of the several Zen gardens that are located inward Little Tokyo. This item ane is at the Buddhist temple on the corner of tertiary Street in addition to Central Avenue.

Along Spring Street, side yesteryear side to Olvera Street, is some other novel park. Mostly create to locomote used every bit an amphitheater, it is non yet opened upwards regularly.

Right following to the to a higher identify common is this vertical garden, a wall planted amongst diverse ornamental in addition to edible plants.

Next to the old cathedral, directly exactly just called Vibiana, is this garden. Only opened upwards for events the old cathedral is rented out for, this used to locomote the archbishop's personal meditation garden.

This is a novel bag common exactly northward of the corner of tertiary in addition to Main Street behind a novel condo projection called The Medallion.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squeamish grassy expanse overlooking a nutrient courtroom (that is soundless waiting for it's source tenant). Kind of a lonely identify correct now.

ADDED 5-26-2011

This plaza, for which I don't know the name, sits direct behind the Federal Building located at 300 N. Los Angeles Street...about a block S of Union Station. It separates the Federal Building from the Roybal Courthouse in addition to the Metropolitan Detention Center.

There is this nice, shady lawn expanse in addition to there's a cool outpouring on the other side of those columns.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large sculpture of 2 guys fighting amongst a lot of holes inward them is at the other end.  The official advert of it is "Molecule Man" but most people telephone phone it the "Drive By."  The columns are also covered amongst a bas relief sculpture that a federal gauge tried to take hold removed every bit obscene...he didn't succeed.

It's a condom identify to accept a suspension every bit it is good guarded on all sides yesteryear U.S. Police in addition to marshalls, fifty-fifty if yous do take heed the taunts of the prisoners inward their practise yard upwards above.

Note for wheelchair users: yous tin access the plaza via the veranda surrounding the Federal Building. There are 2 ramps, ane starting at the corner of Aliso in addition to Los Angeles Streets in addition to the other well-nigh 50 feet eastward of the corner of Temple in addition to Los Angeles Streets.

Angel's Knoll is a pocket-size common situated betwixt the bottom of the Angel's Flight funicular in addition to the entrance to the Pershing Square station of the Metro subway.  It's pretty, provides a lot of shade on hot days, in addition to is relaxing.  The downside is that it attracts a lot of homeless.  It's at 356 S. Olive on the corner of quaternary Street.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ride to the transcend of the colina on Angel's Flight is solely a quarter.

This is the Lincoln Plaza on the corner of Grand in addition to First, across from the Disney Concert Hall.  Just a small, shady plaza amongst a bust of our 16th president to sit down by.

ADDED 4-29-2011 - These following 3 I'll telephone phone "Forbidden in addition to Forbidding." 

Grand Avenue Park - This volition non locomote thence hidden when it's done.  Running from the Music Center to City Hall, this was a rattling squeamish pedestrian mall, a bully identify to accept a suspension from the neighboring component subdivision edifice in addition to habitation to my favorite outpouring inward the city.  It's all been ripped out now, amongst a novel common beingness built inward it's identify in addition to Los Angeles' largest outpouring volition locomote restored when it's done.  For now?  Keep out!  It's a contruction zone.

Underground Archive - On 1st Street, across from the Los Angeles Times edifice is this.  Underneath is a large bunker that used to work solid the city's historical archives.  When it was closed, drug dealers in addition to the homeless moved inward making it something similar a George Romero movie.  The riff-raff in addition to down-and-out were swept away, the entrances sealed, in addition to the common to a higher identify fenced off.  It's rattling pretty in addition to includes a squeamish rose garden, it's a shame that the metropolis doesn't at to the lowest degree proceed this component subdivision to a higher identify the world opened upwards every bit a park.

Parker Center Plaza - At to the lowest degree this one's opened upwards to the public.  This forbidding, concrete plaza betwixt the old Parker Center LAPD edifice in addition to City Hall South is habitation to this fine art installation called "Eye of the Storm."  The posts stand upwards for the malevolence of the metropolis patch the niggling shelter inward the middle represents the LAPD's protection against it.  Could operate a niggling assist in addition to cleaning these days.

ADDED 3-23-2011

This bag park, amongst a large lawn dominating it, is on Second Street betwixt Main in addition to Spring Streets.  Great identify for frisbee or exactly laying on the grass looking upwards at the dominating skyline overhead.

At the novel L.A. Police Headquarters, across the street from City Hall, I found this niggling memorial garden upwards on the 2d floor.  Almost invisible from street level, if yous didn't know it was there, you'd definitely fille it.  Accessible via a stairway following to the newsstand on Main Street...just S of first...or via a ramp on the westward side of the Ronald Deaton Auditorium, side yesteryear side to the LAPD building.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rattling quiet, sparse, in addition to pretty identify made for some personal reflection.

ADDED 3-3-2011

Fletcher Bowron Square is perched atop the underground L.A. Mall, betwixt Main, Los Angeles, Temple, in addition to Arcadia Streets.  The persistent homeless population agency it's non the most pleasant identify on this list, but the gardener assigned to it is persistent in addition to does a skillful chore keeping it pretty.  It's a frequent location of celebrations in addition to commemorations.  Loction cinema shoots operate it a lot every bit an outdoor dining room for their arts and crafts services units.

It's also the habitation of the boondoggle known every bit the Triforium (on the left side of the painting above), a supposedly musical sculpture installed at a terms of ane one 1000 one thousand dollars inward 1975 that's never worked right.  Today, it looks similar an old alien arts and crafts waiting for the mothership to arrive.

At the corner of Broadway in addition to Temple Street is the key heating in addition to AC flora for the Civic Center.  Around the dorsum is ane of the most good hidden of downtown's surreptitious gardens.  I can't abide by whatever data for this ane but obviously it is a xeroscaped garden...meaning landscaped for minimum H2O usage...that is good maintained in addition to rattling pretty.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 chain across the driveway discourages visitors but yous tin walk around that to relish this litte common all yesteryear yourself.

This outpouring dominates an unpopulated plaza betwixt City Hall East in addition to City Hall South along Main Street.  Wheelchair users, locomote inward on Los Angeles Street where you'll abide by a stair lift.  There are a lot of benches, trees, arbors, in addition to picnic tables hither that are rattling enticing to exactly relax on.

Incongruously located inward the middle of a large parking lot, exactly to the northward of the Geffen Contemporary Art Museum on Temple Street.  Originally, the entire parking lot was supposed to locomote turned into a park.  This monument to Japanese Americans that served the U.S. side inward World War II is all that made it.

Nearby inward Little Tokyo, this Zen garden is rattling difficult to abide by but it sits behind an component subdivision edifice at the Japanese Plaza, close the corner of San Pedro in addition to 2nd Streets.

Still hidden is this other Zen garden but the directions are easier.  Go into the antechamber of the Kyoto Grand Hotel on the corner of 2nd in addition to Los Angeles Streets.  On the S side of the antechamber are 2 elevators, accept them to the tertiary flooring in addition to you'll leave of absence into this lovely garden that also has a beer garden inward the summer.

Getting away from Little Tokyo, the novel LAPD headquarters was supposed to locomote some other common hither inward downtown that was cancelled but the front end plaza, combined amongst the S lawn of City Hall makes for some good, light-green opened upwards infinite hither inward downtown.  The solely work is 1st Street running through the middle of it.

The Church provides the following respite, on the corner of Temple in addition to Hill Streets is the novel cathedral.  The interior courtyard is total of gardens, fountains, in addition to meditation gardens.  There's also a squeamish cafe here.

The final ane is good hidden.  You take hold to know it's at that spot or you'll never run across it.  Find the Disney Hall on the corner of Grand Avenue in addition to 1st Street.  Walk around to either side.  Find the staircase in addition to climb (there's an get upwards for wheelchair users on the 1st Street staircase).  At the transcend you'll abide by this gem of a bag common consummate amongst individual tables, viewing terraces, in addition to that delft outpouring that looks similar a rose.

That's exactly a few...I'll update this post service every bit I add together pictures to the collection.  Next fourth dimension you're inward downtown L.A. in addition to looking to larn away from it all for a few minutes, endeavour ane of these surreptitious gardens.

Darryl
Copyright 2011
All rights reserved.