A presentation given to the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council offers a look at plans to transform an empty lot across the street from City Hall into green space before the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

In February, Los Angeles Recreation and Parks officials entered into a partnership with the AltaMed Museum of Chicano and Mexican Art on an effort to bringing arts, cultural, and sports programming to the First and Broadway park site, named for its location at the intersection of 1st Street and Broadway. The property, which abuts Gloria Molina Grand Park, has set empty for roughly 10 years as an ever-growing budget left plans to develop the site perpetually out of reach.

Proposed art galleryAltaMed

AltaMed's plan for the two-acre lot, per a presentation given at that time to the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners, would include sports mental health services, sports nutrition services, wellness activities, and other art and cultural activities, with access available between 10 am an 5 pm from Thursday through Sunday of each week.

The DLANC presentation further elaborates on that plan, called El Corazon Art Park, which would include greenscaping for outdoor sports, public sculptures and art installations, and an art gallery. A site plan for the space, designed by Studio-MLA, shows a flexible green space and wellness center located toward the Broadway site of the site, and a two-story gallery fronting Spring Street to the south. A small parking lot is also proposed for the space.  

1st and Broadway park siteGoogle Street View

The presentation indicates that the Art Park would be staffed and have round-the-clock security.

AltaMed's arrangement with the City of Los Angeles requires the payment of a $175,000 use fee for the property in quarterly installments through February 2027. Per the Parks Department staff report, none of the proposed structures are to be permanent.

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