New soccer club coming to LA + Nonprofits teach bike safety in South LA



Bicyclists in South LA don't have enough space to ride safely on the roads. (Intersections South LA)

Many say bicyclists in South LA don’t have enough space to ride safely on the roads. (Intersections South LA)

Goodbye, Chivas USA. Hello, Los Angeles Football Club!: The Los Angeles Football Club, a replacement for Chivas USA, is backed by figures including Magic Johnson and Nomar Garciaparra. The soccer club is looking to build a 22,000 seat stadium in Los Angeles. (Fansided)

Central Ave. bike count underscores need for better infrastructure: South LA’s sustainability efforts are hindered by a general lack of safety because pedestrians and bicyclists deal with lack of infrastructure while navigating the city. (LA Streets Blog)

How the Los Angeles’ homeless crisis got so bad: A state of emergency has been declared as Los Angeles’ homeless population rose 12 percent over the past two years. Officials have committed $100 million towards solutions. (LA Times)

 

South L.A.’s Martin Luther King Jr. park scores new sports field



MLK Jr. Elementary 5th grade class with community leaders.

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary 5th grade class with community leaders. | Stephanie Monte

A class of fifth graders from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in South L.A. excitedly rushed to score goals at the school’s new sports field on Thursday, just next door at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center.

Councilmember Bernard Parks and representatives from the Department of Recreation and Public Works were on hand to announce the completion of a project that they say will provide a safe place for kids to play and exercise.

To hear comments from Parks and others, click play on an audio story from Annenberg Radio News:

The bright green synthetic grass field measures 80 by 130 feet and is surrounded by fencing and two sets of bleachers. The construction cost about $650,000 from a special project fund. [Read more…]