Excerpt from the Vision Plan: some of what we heard from community engagements.

A rendering of the proposed Parque del Sol design.

Residents giving feedback on three proposed concept designs.

By coordinating our outrach with existing community events, we engaged a broad range of Bell Gardens residents.

Excerpt from the Vision Plan: kids drew their ideal amenities for the future park.

Excerpt from the Vision Plan: some of what we heard from community engagements.

A rendering of the proposed Parque del Sol design.

our resilient rio vision plan

KDI collaborated with the City, residents, and stakeholders of Bell Gardens to reimagine an underutilized public golf course as a multi-benefit public green space. The Our Resilient Rio Vision Plan outlines our process and provides guidance for what comes next for this public space.

context

Accessible and approachable outreach was key to gaining insight on what residents and stakeholders of all ages wanted to see on this site.

Bell Gardens, a Gateway City in Southeast Los Angeles County, is nestled in between the LA River and Rio Hondo tributaries, freeways, and railroad tracks.

Small in size but fairly dense for LA County, Bell Gardens grapples with the adverse effects of pollution and inadequate access to green space due to the large presence of nearby industrial factories. Low home ownership rates and a lack of private backyard spaces make access to walkable, local parks and open spaces crucial to the health and well-being of Bell Gardens residents.

process

At a "picnic in the park" event, community members gathered together to eat, converse, and share what made Bell Gardens special.

City leaders identified a need for resilient and responsive outdoor spaces following the intense strain on parks and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like KDI, they recognized parks as productive public spaces that can work harder for their communities, especially before, during, and after disaster events.

Beginning in 2021, KDI conducted a deep community engagement process to determine the future of the Bell Gardens golf course. A community survey determined that the majority of residents wanted to transform the space into a public park. Through community workshops and one-on-one conversations, residents co-developed a final concept design for the park that incorporates outdoor education, a variety of play spaces, gathering areas, and green infrastructure.

solution

The Parque del Sol design presents a gathering space for community members to share important life moments and cultural celebrations among nature.

Through a community co-design process, we landed on a final concept design for the "Parque del Sol."

The Parque del Sol design balances ecological resilience with cultural elements that reflect the unique Bell Gardens community. Walking paths would weave through natural open space, while a centrally located multipurpose event space could hold everything from community movie nights to environmental education workshops. Additionally, the design includes stormwater management techniques that capture water and promote biodiversity.

impact

A key component of the new design is a central gathering space for events and social acitivities.

The award-winning Vision Plan paves the way for transforming the underutilized golf course into a vibrant community space.

This new public space's design laid out in the Vision Plan would connect the community to the native flora and fauna of their own backyard and the adjacent Rio Hondo, while also encouraging more gathering and civic engagement. In the spring of 2024, the Bell Gardens City Council voted in favor of moving forward with the new design and the APA Los Angeles Chapter awarded the Vision Plan with the Award of Merit for Opportunity and Empowerment.