Whats GOOD About Pershing Square?

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0 1 stage area seating area water feature public art caf facilities pet area parking garage plaza area lawn

Additional Comments About What is GOOD about Pershing Square

I'm normally not cynical but it's hard to pick a good feature or quality at Pershing Square. It's a concrete box, it smells, and the "water feature" looks like an open sewer. What I'd like to see is a park similar to the Maguire Gardens outside the Central Library - shade, meandering paths, beautiful and soothing water features, and places to quietly sit and ponder.
Restore Pershing Square to it's full retro style. The old nostalgia would be lovely!

Although I clicked "Like The Lawn" I have no idea where the lawn is. There is nothing appealing about Pershing Square as it now is. I would like to see it restored to the 1910 design with SMALL alterations for dogs, perhaps a news kiosk; things that encourage contemplative use, not camping out. The design as it now is proves that persons who control our cityscape have absolutely no sense of history or what makes life pleasant: small scale, welcoming-ness and closeness to nature.
The only good thing about Pershing Square is its location.

There is nothing about the current park design that I like. I love this city and I know that we can do better. We should return to the 1910 design -- it was elegant, welcoming and all that a city park should be.
All of the above are not so great, including the tower, the colors, the lack of shade... One good thing about the square, other than its location, is that it is used by the public -- ice skating, movies, farmers markets, etc. As currently configured, I can't say any of the above are "good. I like the seating areas around the perimeter of the park. My only complaint is that the area is usually dirty littered with trash.

Whats NOT so Great about Pershing Square?

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0 1 stage area seating area water feature public art eating facilities pet area parking garage plaza area lawn

Additional Comments about what is not so great about Pershing Square

The current Pershing Square design is as ugly 1980's as it can possibly get. it is an eye-soar and it really brings the area down.

All of these things are needed, but it would be great if there was more grass/lawn, bigger dog park, more approachable water feature, less concrete.

Stop monetizing Pershing Square. That is the first step to saving it.
Way too much cement, the dog park is too small, the staging area occupies too much real estate and is never available to the public.
More landscaping/ trees/ grass would be nice! Separate fenced in area for dogs so people can have a space to sit or lay down and enjoy a grassy area as well!
There is just too much cement. Period. Also, if you were walking by, you'd never even know there is a park there - it's completely closed off from the surrounding streets. Hardscape in general is uninviting and brutal. I don't need lawn, but more green with succulents, etc. Everything is segmented in a way that you have to walk through the park in indirect ways. There should be clear diagonal paths from between 5th/hill and 6th/olive, and between 5th/olive and 6th/hill.

What do you Want to CHANGE about Pershing Square?

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0 1 More space for recreational activity better restroom access usable water feature more shade less organized programing less concrete more organized programming more public art more food and commerce options more green space

Additional comments about what to CHANGE about Pershing Square

I don't think it needs to be re-invented. Restore the Square -- just as some of Broadway's theaters are being restored. A lovely cafe -simple sandwiches, coffees, salads, desserts -- would be a nice community feature. Everyone loves food.

With ample shade and more green spaces, the environment begins to feel like an Oasis amidst the concrete jungle.
I believe that the best solution for the many problems of Pershing Square is for it to return to the classic 1910 design by architect John Parkinson: a traditional European-style park with a central fountain, long axial pathways, street-level views, shade trees. There should be less organized programming, in keeping with the park's traditional usage, and no distinctly modern architecture, sculpture or signage.

A big complaint from downtown residents is a lack of green space, both for humans and our dogs. Following the opening of Spring Street Park, the community was shocked by the amount of cement, especially when the idea is more green space! People have recently been organizing bocce ball games, more children in the neighborhood require more play space, more playgrounds, and the number of residents with dogs is astounding! We can bring all of this together into a beautiful park!

Rank your preferred USE

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0 1 Taking a Nap Picnicking Walking a Dog Taking Your Children to Play Going to a Farmers Market Going to a Concert Going to See a Summertime Movie Ice Skating in the Winter

Whats An Ideal Town Square?

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0 1 A place where you can take a nap, read a book or picnic A place where services are provided to the public A place where you can see a concert or other programmed event A forum where people can gather to protest, rally, hear a speech or march

Currently as the space is now, what do you like most about Pershing Square?
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Being able to see a concert

Enjoying the public art the park offers It's a place to participate in an urban garden

Being able to shop at the 1 weekly farmers market

It provides a space for rallies marches and protests It's a destination to bring people from out of town

Being able to use the pet area

It's a gathering spot to relax and talk to friends

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What type of activity in a town square is least important to you out of these choices?

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0 1 Being able to walk a dog Ensuring that kids can play A schedule of established concerts, movies and entertainment Commerce in the park: a caf, farmers market, fairs etc.

Your idea of relaxation in a park or town square is:

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0 1 Sitting or laying on the grass, enjoying a book or picknicking in the shade Being able to be active, participate in recreational activity Sharing lunch with others at a table or by a caf Strolling through the park en route to a destination

You want to use Pershing Square as a:

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0 1 Destination point, tourist attraction A pleasant green space that people can enjoy as they pass from one destination to the next A place that mostly meets the needs of the community that uses it and lives around it A place that is the epicenter for speeches, rallies and demonstrations in Los Angeles

Does your ideal park offer eating options?

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0 1 Yes No

What time of day is use of the park most important?

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What Does This Tell Us?

Survey respondents like natural elements that exist at Pershing Square like the water feature and the lawn. They want to increase this by adding more green space and taking away concrete elements. This is evident in that people do not like the hardscaped plaza as well as the seating area as it is now. That being said, people want to be able to have a space to share a lunch with others at a table by a caf around mid-day. This indicates that these hardscaped spaces and caf areas dont need to be eliminated but reduced and improved. Overall, respondents envision a pleasant and inviting place that can be easily used for unorganized activity like sharing lunch with others at a table or by a caf however, people currently do enjoy the programmed activity like the farmers market, at concerts. There is a significant portion of folks that also utilize the park to walk their pets. Respondents overwhelming want a Pershing Square that mostly meets the needs of the community that uses it and lives around it.