The Future

The California State Parks Department is currently engaged in a community-based master planning process in partnership with LA City Recreation and Parks to refine the Coalition’s vision into a viable State Park design. The River Project, with a grant from the Taylor Family and the California State Parks Foundation, collaborated with local students and a local artist to create the interpretive facilities for the State Park.

The California Coastal Conservancy, with the blessing of Union Pacific Railroad has undertaken a feasibility study on the various opportunities and potential uses for the riverfront land at Taylor Yard's parcel G. This study examines the practical issues involved in achieving the multi-use park that has been envisioned. The study's first phase is complete. It presents four potential scenarios that will be further refined in phase two. Since each of the alternatives has the potential to modify the surface and/or groundwater characteristics at Taylor Yard, a focused study of probable sources of existing groundwater contamination and the development of a model were needed, but outside the scope of the Coastal Conservancy feasibility study.

With this need in mind, The River Project conducted a comprehensive environmental records review and developed a groundwater model to evaluate the potential opportunities and constraints related to each alternative. The model provides a means to understand the existing (current) groundwater and surface water conditions at Taylor Yard and the Los Angeles River, and will eventually be used to predict what each alternative’s influence may be on the surface/groundwater system. State Parks acquired the first 18 acres of Parcel G in December 2003. When State Parks acquires the remaining 44 acres, they will incorporate the technical recommendations from the Coastal Conservancy Study as they move forward with the master plan for the 100-acre State Park.

The community has been working to meet another local need by advocating for the development of a high school with joint use facilities on Parcel F2, rather than the planned phase two of the office park.

Proposals for a community-centered retail and residential development on Parcel C are undergoing a community review process.

We will keep you updated as to planning meetings and draft plans as the process proceeds. If you want to be included on our e-mail list for notifications, please send your request to info@tayloryard.org.