Exposition Park (Los Angeles)

This article is about the park in Los Angeles. For the eponymous neighborhood, see Exposition Park (Los Angeles neighborhood).

Exposition Park is a 160-acre urban park (65 ha) in the south region of Los Angeles, California,^[1] in the Exposition Park neighborhood. Established in 1872 as an agricultural fairground, the park includes the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Banc of California Stadium, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the California African American Museum.^[2] The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is under construction. Bounded by Exposition Boulevard to the north, South Figueroa Street to the east, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the south and Vermont Avenue to the west, it is directly south of the main campus of the University of Southern California.^[3]

Exposition Park, Los Angeles

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird at Exposition Park, 2021

The park is public open space, managed by the Sixth District Agricultural Association.

Features

 

The historic Mission Revival style Exposition Club House, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Exposition Park houses the following:

• LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium
• Banc of California Stadium
  • Home of Los Angeles FC
• Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (under construction)
• Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Home of USC Trojans football
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
• California Science Center
  • IMAX Theatre at California Science Center
  • Space Shuttle Endeavour
• Exposition Park Rose Garden
• California African American Museum
• Concrete hand and footprints signed by Ed Begley Jr. of St. Elsewhere and other actors from medical TV shows such as Ben Casey
• EXPO Center (includes the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium) and the Soboroff Sports Field (soccer). Originally managed in 2006 by Bentley Management Group, the Soboroff Sports Field was demolished in 2018 to allow construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
• Science Center School and Amgen Center for Science Learning (formerly California National Guard Armory)

 

Dana R. Weller and Paul Engstrom laying the cornerstone of the California Exposition Building in 1910 (Los Angeles Herald)

 

A Douglas DC-8 near the Air and Space Exhibits Gallery

The cultural facilities mentioned above are operated by both the state and Los Angeles County.

Former venues

• Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

History

The 160-acre (0.65 km²) site served as an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910 (hence its original name, "Agricultural Park"). In 1880, John Edward, Ozro W. Childs, and former California Governor John G. Downey persuaded the State of California to purchase 160 acres (0.65 km²) in Los Angeles to foster agriculture in the Southland. Farmers sold their harvest and arces on the grounds, while horses, dogs, and even camels competed on a racetrack where a rose garden now sits and blooms. In 1909, a group of civic-minded individuals led by former Pasadena Mayor Horace Dobbins set about reforming the park, removing the racetrack and other activities and replacing them with gardens and museums.^[4]

At the 2028 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum will host Athletics as well as the main closing ceremony. The Banc of California Stadium will be one of the soccer venues.^[5]

Public transportation

Along the northern edge of the park, the Metro E Line light rail line serves the park with its Expo Park/USC Station. On the northeast, (Flower Street and 37th Street), the Metro J Line bus rapid transit serves Exposition Park & USC at its 37th Street/USC Station on the Harbor Transitway. The J Line station is located on the freeway median level of the 1-110 freeway.

Department of Public Safety

Not to be confused with California Exposition and State Fair Police.

The Exposition Park Department of Public Safety provides law enforcement and security services to the Park. DPS officers are California peace officers sworn under section 830.7 of the California Penal Code and have peace officer powers of arrest while on duty.^[6] Since 2014, the DPS has been managed under contract by the California Highway Patrol, who provide management, leadership, training, and policy development for the DPS.^[7] The Chief of the Department is CHP Captain David Dashiell.^[7]

See also

•  Los Angeles portal

• California State and Consumer Services Agency
• List of parks in Los Angeles

References

1. [1]"South L.A." Mapping L.A., Los Angeles Times
2. Lubell, Sam (May 30, 2019). "Exposition Park plans a makeover that would make Seurat smile". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
3. [2] Mapquest.com
4. Charles P. Hobbs (2014). Hidden History of Transportation in Los Angeles. The History Press. ISBN 9781626196711.
5. http://la24-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdf/LA2024-canditature-part2_english.pdf^{[bare URL PDF]}
6. "Public Safety – Exposition Park". expositionpark.ca.gov. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
7. "(519) Exposition Park". www.chp.ca.gov. Retrieved 11 November 2020.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Exposition Park, Los Angeles.

• Official website — Exposition Park.
• University Park Family — an online newspaper and social network focused on the neighborhoods around USC and Exposition Park, and the surrounding areas.
• Leimert Park Beat — a collaborative online community focused nearby Leimert Park: "The Soul of Los Angeles and the African American cultural center of the city".

Coordinates: 34°00′53″N 118°17′14″W / 34.014659°N 118.287177°W / 34.014659; -118.287177