A Los Angeles board Thursday initiated a process to construct a proposed $2.3 million iron fence around MacArthur Park, which officials said would serve to bolster public safety amid ongoing challenges with homelessness and drug usage.
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In a 4-0 vote, the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners instructed staff to finalize a proposal. Staff are expected to put a call out for contractors and consultants to assist with the project, which will likely return by December for consideration, according to a city report.
Commission President Renata Simril was absent during the vote.
In a report from the Department of Recreation and Parks, officials said they aim to improve flexibility in managing park hours, improve oversight during off-hours and support long-term stewardship of the park.
The proposed fence would be a green wrought iron fence around the northern and southern sections of the park, enclosing Wilshire Boulevard sides and eight historically prominent cornered ingress/egress points. The project would include gates at all ingress/egress points and ensure compliance with building codes, as well as provide accessibility for emergency personnel.
The park is home to several historical pieces such as the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Memorial, Judy Simonian's Pyramids, a monument dedicated to Archbishop Oscar A. Romero and a statue of Harrison Gray Otis.
The park is located at 2230 West Sixth St. in the Westlake District. Divided into two sections by Wilshire Boulevard, it was constructed in the 1930s, featuring a lake, playground, grass slopes and paved walkways.
"Over the years, MacArthur Park has remained a vital community gathering place, but it has also experienced ongoing public safety and quality- of-life challenges that pose challenges to perform maintenance and sustain park investments," a report from the department read. "In recent years, the Department of Recreation and Parks has been working collaboratively with the Mayor's Office, Council District 1 and the Los Angeles Police Department to develop strategies that balance safety, accessibility and preservation of the park's historic character."
"The proposed wrought iron perimeter fencing reflects this balanced approach. The intent of the fencing is not to limit access but rather to create a safer, more welcoming and better-managed environment for park visitors and nearby residents," the report reads.
Meanwhile, some Los Angeles residents criticized the proposal, noting the $2.3 million could be used elsewhere to support homeless individuals and beautify the park. Some residents contended the fence would serve to limit access to a green open space.
"Parks belong to everyone," Ida Shuri told the commissioners Thursday morning. "There is a history in the city of segregation -- of land theft from indigenous communities. The action of putting up a fence not only creates a hostile feeling in our communities. It also sends a message that this park is an unwelcoming place for the poor."
Dmitri Spider Davila, associate director for Community Health Project L.A., said the fence wouldn't serve to solve the problems at the park. The organization bills itself as "empowering people affected by drug use to protect themselves, educate each other and reduce harm in our communities."
"If you can find millions of dollars to spend on a fence that solves nothing, please use that money on housing and services for those in the park," Davila said. "Fences push people out, often in the same neighborhood, which makes them difficult for us to find and get them the medical care they need."
"It makes it hard to distribute lifesaving naloxone. It makes it difficult to identify people for our lead Rampart program that successfully houses over 80% of its participants. Fences are not an answer. Fences will cause more people to die of overdose, preventable disease to spread and solve nothing. Health care and services are the only answer," Davila added.
Representatives for Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents the First Council District, including MacArthur Park, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this year, the two elected officials touted a decrease in crimes at and around the park, citing the results of initiatives that led to improvements.
Hernandez introduced a motion in early April calling for a report on potential funding sources to maintain staffing plans for several services and programs at the park and within a half-mile radius for a period through June 2026.
The nearly 30-acre park serves 41,000 residents and 22,000 Metro riders passing through the Westlake/MacArthur Park station as well as six major bus lines, according to Hernandez's motion.
While the population has significantly increased, city investment has not kept pace, resulting in an area characterized by "deep poverty, uncleanliness and crime," according to the motion.
"These challenges have been exacerbated in recent years by the opioid epidemic that has ravaged the region, and especially MacArthur Park, where rampant drug sales have fueled a public health crisis in which open-air drug use, overdoses and emergency response calls are daily occurrences," the motion reads.
Since 2023, Hernandez's council office, which serves District 1, encompassing downtown and northeast L.A. neighborhoods, secured millions of dollars to improve the park and enhance safety for nearby residents, including at least $25 million in grants at the county, state and federal levels. Additionally, the councilwoman provided $1 million for dedicated clean teams six days a week and $950,000 for peace ambassadors seven days a week.
With the mayor's office, the city has also upgraded street lighting and increased the presence of Crisis and Incident Response through Community- led Engagement, also known as CIRCLE, to assist homeless people.
Raul Claros, founder of the CD1 Coalition and who is running against Hernandez to represent the district, has previously criticized Bass and Hernandez for not doing enough for the park.
In a statement, Claros warned costs of the proposed fence may increase as there are still "unknown" elements and uncertain timelines.
"The only reason this conversation is even happening is because of your failed leadership. The last 12 months have only gotten worse," Claros said in a statement.
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