Pershing Square (Los Angeles)
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| Pershing Square (Los Angeles) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Pershing Square |
| Caption | Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angeles |
| Location | Downtown Los Angeles, California |
| Coordinates | 34°03′41″N 118°14′31″W |
| Established | 1866 (as La Plaza Abaja) |
| Area | 1.9 acres |
| Operator | Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks |
Pershing Square (Los Angeles) is a public park and plaza in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles, California, bounded by Hill Street, Olive Street, 6th Street, and Grand Avenue. The site has served as a municipal square, civic gathering place, and transit hub since the 19th century and has been reshaped by notable figures including William Mulholland, Frank Gehry, and Rafael Moneo. Over its history the plaza has intersected with events and institutions such as the California Gold Rush, the Los Angeles City Hall, and the Los Angeles Central Library.
History
The parcel originated as La Plaza Abaja in 1866 and evolved alongside Los Angeles as population boomed after the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived and following the California Gold Rush migration. In the late 19th century the square hosted public executions, political rallies, and markets tied to merchants from Olvera Street and Bunker Hill, while adjacent development included the Merchants National Bank Building and the Bradbury Building. The plaza was renamed for John J. Pershing after World War I, and the site later accommodated wartime mobilization activities connected to Camp Kearny and veterans' commemorations alongside organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mid-20th century transformations followed transit expansion by the Pacific Electric and the Los Angeles Railway, and urban renewal programs linked to Mayor Tom Bradley and planners from the Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles. Late 20th- and early 21st-century renovations involved architects and institutions including I. M. Pei, Frank Gehry, Rafael Moneo, AECOM, and landscape architects who negotiated interests of stakeholders like the Los Angeles Conservancy and corporate owners such as CBRE Group.
Design and Features
The park occupies roughly one city block and features a sunken garden, terraces, fountains, and a bandstand, with materials and forms referencing precedents from Olmsted Brothers and modernists like Le Corbusier. Elements include a central lawn, paved promenades, native and ornamental plantings drawing on species showcased at the Los Angeles Arboretum and horticultural programs promoted by University of California, Los Angeles researchers. Hardscape and seating areas reflect design dialogues between Rafael Moneo’s minimalism and landscape practices informed by James Corner and the American Society of Landscape Architects. Lighting, irrigation, and irrigation retrofits have been influenced by standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council and city codes overseen by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The plaza’s layout interfaces with adjacent built environment anchors such as the Wells Fargo Tower, the Title Guarantee and Trust Company Building, and the Woolworth Building, while sightlines connect to civic structures like Los Angeles City Hall and the Magnet Theater.
Events and Usage
Pershing Square has hosted political rallies featuring speakers from movements connected to the Chicano Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and labor organizations including the United Farm Workers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Cultural programming has included holiday markets akin to festivals on Olvera Street, concerts with performers who later appeared at Hollywood Bowl and collaborations with institutions such as Los Angeles Philharmonic outreach and the Music Center education initiatives. Seasonal events have ranged from winter ice rinks inspired by installations at Bryant Park to farmers’ markets like those associated with Slow Food USA and pop-up exhibitions curated with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The plaza is also a site for civic memorials, vigils connected to incidents reported at Los Angeles Police Department precincts, and community meetings convened by neighborhood councils linked to the Historic Core Business Improvement District.
Public Art and Monuments
The square features public art and commemorative monuments honoring subjects tied to local and national history, with plaques and sculptures referencing figures such as John J. Pershing and veterans associated with the American Legion. Works by artists and fabricators connected to municipal commissions have complemented temporary installations by contemporary artists represented by galleries in the Arts District and the Geffen Contemporary. Public art initiatives have been coordinated with programs like the Cultural Affairs Department (Los Angeles) and groups such as the Public Art Fund, and the plaza has displayed pieces that dialogue with nearby collections at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Hammer Museum.
Transportation and Accessibility
Pershing Square functions as a multimodal hub tied to the Pershing Square station on the Los Angeles Metro B Line and D Line, and surface connections include bus routes operated by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and private shuttles linking to regional nodes like Union Station and the 7th Street/Metro Center station. Pedestrian access aligns with Broadway (Los Angeles) corridors and bicycle infrastructure promoted by Metro Bike Share and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation Complete Streets policies. Parking and curbside management intersect with municipal programs administered by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and commercial regulations enforced by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
Redevelopment and Controversies
Redevelopment proposals over decades have sparked debates among stakeholders including the Los Angeles Conservancy, downtown business groups such as the Central City Association, civic officials from Los Angeles City Council, and developers like Brookfield Properties and Avenue Partners. Controversies have concerned privatization of public space, maintenance contracts negotiated with firms such as AECOM and LAZ Parking, security arrangements involving the Los Angeles Police Department, and competing visions advanced by designers aligned with Frank Gehry and Rafael Moneo. Environmental reviews have referenced California Environmental Quality Act processes and engaged advocates from Sierra Club (U.S.) and Heal the Bay, while funding mechanisms drew on proposals tied to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority grants, municipal bonds, and philanthropic gifts from foundations like the Annenberg Foundation.