The park is located on the corner of Vernon and Menlo and is actually a basketball park. The neighborhood is pretty bad and the park is gated off with huge garbage bins, grafitti, and broken courts. I have volunteers ready to participate in the clean up but we need city assistance and funding for repairs. I contacted the City of Los Angeles Parks and Recreations via email and I am waiting on replies. I seen something about Proposition K passed in 1996 designed to fund construction projects for 30 years, but I have no idea how the devolop a proposal request or how to but some bite in the request if I made one. Any help would be appreciated.
2006-12-21 09:02:56 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Civic Participation
Start a neighborhood organisation for the park. "Restore the park commitee". Get people involved that live in the neighborhood. Find corporations and businesses in the area to get involved. Go to all of the council meetings and bring it up (every time until they are sick of you). Go to the local TV stations and see if you can get the story on the air. Corporations love to give money in front of cameras, it makes them look good. Find large contracting companies that may donate the materials and equipment. (Tell them about the media as well) They love free publicity.
Good luck and I hope you get it done. We need more people to stand up for our neighborhoods. Together it would be a great world.
2006-12-21 09:12:28 · answer #1 · answered by mikis1967 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There have been a lot of very good responses to this question already. I'd like to add a couple of ideas. Can you put together a fund-raising event (ask a local band, hold a sidewalk sale)? An event can help raise funds and the public profile of the project.
Before you do anything else you do need to put together a proposal for the park. Be concrete - What do you want to see happen to the park? How much will it cost? Can any of it be done by volunteers? You'll need this before you approach officials, donors, businesses, foundations, and even volunteers. Don't try to do everything yourself - use sites like craigslist and idealist.com to advertise for help with your plan and putting it into action. Good luck!
2006-12-23 06:47:01 · answer #2 · answered by fdm215 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to www.guidestar.org. Put in your zip code and see if there's a local environmental or neighborhood group that will partner with you. You provide the volunteers, they have the know-how of how to get it done and may have some money to use, or they can help you fundraise. You might also contact a local church or a coalition of religious groups, or a youth program. By partnering, you get a lot more done and don't have to do a lot of paperwork. Also, you can start the cleanup now before you work on fixing the courts, and you might get a lot accomplished in just a day's worth of cleaning up.
2006-12-22 21:54:21 · answer #3 · answered by Katherine W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest you put your proposal for renovation in writing and then put it in a folder and wait.
I haven't lived in LA for some time now but, I do know that news print, radio and TV reporters that deal with local issues are always looking for some juicy news.
When you find a willing reporter, approach it like this: "I've tried to communicate with the city but have not received a response in ___months. The community really needs this park and we have the volunteers standing by and ready to refurbish, and make it a place we can be proud of".
You don't need to say anything fancy, just the facts but, I suggest you have your plan in writing before someone with the city surprises and wants to sit down and talk about it.
Last, don't let them get away free, your taxes pay for things like parks and recreation. Make a deal with them. You fix it, they maintain it (clean and safe).
Good Luck!
2006-12-21 09:15:33 · answer #4 · answered by ggraves1724 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Use the telephone! People will respond to a voice before an electronic letter. Or get up off your bum and go down to city hall and see them in person! Actions speak louder than words.
2006-12-21 17:17:38 · answer #5 · answered by melvinbenjamin 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, in 2010 there is going to be a big earthquake that destroys los angeles so...... wait, or is it 2008, uhhhhh pretty sure its 2010
so for now just ummmm, watever u want.
trust me on the earthquake thing this guy has dreams and has told me around 100 things that have came true and im not talking about small things such as who is going to win games, i am talking bout large scale but i dont want to tell u. ^^
2006-12-21 09:13:31 · answer #6 · answered by grapes 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Contact your Parks and Rec Department, or the City Council.
I think what you're doing is very admirable - best of luck to you!
2006-12-22 04:22:27 · answer #7 · answered by Jadis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start by checking out who actually owns that land. It may not belong to the City.
2006-12-24 09:07:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get in touch with the city planner.
2006-12-21 09:07:47 · answer #9 · answered by Nancy O 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you need a landscape architect, I can put you in touch with some.
2006-12-23 20:35:57 · answer #10 · answered by K A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋