One year after a ceremonial groundbreaking, construction is finally slated to begin this month for Destination Crenshaw, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson announced last week.

Rendering of 54th Street pocket parkPerkins and Will

"After three years of community meetings, town halls, charrettes and quarterly conversations with residents along the 1.3 mile stretch that will be home to Destination Crenshaw, the project is now ready to rise," said Harris-Dawson in a statement posted to the project's website.  "Construction begins this month, and when we’re done in mid 2022, the Crenshaw Corridor will have 10 beautifully designed and landscaped community spaces, world-class architecture and 100 works of art created by local and world renowned Black artists."

The community-driven project, which will span Crenshaw Boulevard between 60th Street in the south and Vernon Avenue in the north, is the result of Metro's decision to build the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line at street level through the Hyde Park community.  At the time, critics argued that at-grade operations would divide the neighborhood and pose a safety risk to area residents.

Rendering of 54th Street pocket parkPerkins and Will

Destination Crenshaw, which has been described as a way to turn "insult into opportunity," capitalizes on the eyeballs from those street-running trains by turning the corresponding stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard into an art exhibition celebrating African-American culture in Los Angeles.

Designed by Perkins and Will and Studio MLA, Destination Crenshaw is broken into four distinct nodes.

Rendering of I Am park near Crenshaw and SlausonPerkins and Will

Improvisation, centered on Crenshaw's intersection with Slauson Avenue, is slated to include three-dimensional art features and a new Crenshaw monument sign.

First, located at Crenshaw and 54th Street, will add two new pocket parks and a satellite office for the Harris-Dawson's 8th Council District.

Rendering of 50th Street pocket parkPerkins and Will

Dreams, located at Crenshaw and 50th Street, is centered on the iconic Crenshaw Wall, and will see the construction of a new parklet above the art display a pocket park on the east site of the street.  

New weathering steel marquee identifies The Wall and access to the parklet above. Perkins and Will

Togetherness, the final node at Crenshaw Boulevard and Leimert Park, is highlighted by Sankofa Park, a new green space which will include public art and an observation platform.

End Highlight of the Experience: Sankofa Park Aerial View. Perkins and Will

The full Destination Crenshaw plan calls for the construction of 11 new parks and a public amphitheater, as well as the planting of street trees and landscaping.

For more information, visit the Destination Crenshaw website.

Check out our gallery for more renderings of the project.