Sankofa Park, the first and most prominent component of Destination Crenshaw, may have missed its scheduled opening date of February 24, but subsequent phases of the $100-million art and open space project are nonetheless showing signs of work.

Earth movers have recently appeared at numerous sites along Crenshaw Boulevard between Slauson Avenue and Leimert Park. Under the Destination Crenshaw plan, these city-controlled lots will be transformed into new parks with open space.

Rendering of 50th Street ParkDestination Crenshaw

Renderings of 50th Street Park and 54th Street Park depict hardscaped spaces featuring outdoor seating and shade structures. They would also include new sculptures designed by Alison Saar and Melvin Edwards, respectively. I Am Park, planned along Slauson at the southern end of the route, will include artwork by Brenna Youngblood.

Other upcoming elements of the project include a refresh of the 787-foot-long Crenshaw Wall at 50th Streets, which will be repainted by the RTN Crew, the creators of the wall's original mural more than 20 years ago.

Rendering of I Am ParkDestination Crenshaw

Perkins&Will is the architect behind the project, with Studio-MLA providing landscape architecture and Gallagher & Associates providing storytelling exhibits and augmented reality supplements. Culture is embedded into the choices of building material - the paving design concepts for the corridor, as well as the planned shade pavilions, are both described as being inspired by African Giant Star Grass.

The overall Destination Crenshaw project will stretch 1.3 miles along Crenshaw Boulevard, parallel to a segment of the K Line which runs at street level, despite a push from activists to run the line underground. Destination Crenshaw, also described as an outdoor museum, has been billed as a way to "turn an insult into an opportunity."

Four interpretive nodes/thematic lenses correlate with a specific locale of urban growth along Crenshaw Boulevard and anchor that location with unique experiences that celebrate the area's heritage.Perkins and Will

The full project, when completed, is expected to create a total of 11 parks, while also adding new street trees to Crenshaw Boulevard.

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