LA river-adjacent Albion Riverside Park opens in Lincoln Heights

In the works for a decade, Albion Riverside Park in Lincoln Heights is now open next to the Downey Recreation Center.

The park, which sits alongside the Los Angeles River, holds a new playground, synthetic soccer fields, basketball courts, outdoor exercise equipment, picnic areas, and an outdoor classroom.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo, who represents the area where the park is located, called the project “a massive investment into Lincoln Heights” that provides green space and recreation space while also affirming “our commitment to sustainable public works.”

The park’s landscaping is in part maintained by recycled stormwater that is filtered through permeable pavement in the parking lot and through bioswales throughout the open space.

The park project has taken a while to come to fruition. The city bought the land, once used as a Ross Swiss Dairy distribution center, in 2009. Demolishing the dairy took four years. Environmental cleanup of the site, which had been used industrially as well for distribution, took 20 months and cost about $2 million more than originally expected, the Los Angeles Times reported in 2015.

Construction on the 10.4-acre park began in May 2017.

Not far from the park, a giant functional water wheel is planned as part of a project by artist Lauren Bon of Metabolic Studio. The wheel would capture water that would be used to irrigate the Los Angeles State Historic Park.