City officials congregated at Exposition Park today to officially kick off a new master plan to guide land use at the 160-acre, State-owned park over the next 20 years.

Architecture and planning firm Torti-Gallas + Partners is leading the master plan, which is funded by approximately $1.125 million contributed by park tenants and partners.

The project comes at a time when Exposition Park finds itself in the midst of sweeping change.  LAFC is midway through construction on the $300-million, 22,000-seat Banc of California Stadium at its eastern front along Figueroa Street.  At Vermont Avenue on the opposite side of the park,, construction is expected to begin in early 2018 for the $1-billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a legacy project for Star Wars creator George Lucas. 

Also in the works are USC's proposed $270-million modernization of the Coliseum, an expansion and redesign of the Museum of Natural History, and a permanent home for the California Science Center's signature attraction: the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

Most notably, Exposition Park is preparing to play a starring role in the 2028 Summer Olympics, with both the Coliseum and Banc of California slated to host events.