The Missed Opportunities for Green Spaces and River Protection in Los Angeles

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The chapter explores the history of proposals like the Emerald Necklace and the Olmstead Plan in Los Angeles, highlighting missed opportunities to create interconnected green spaces and protect the LA River. It also delves into recent events impacting the future of the LA River, emphasizing the importance of activism and awareness for waterway preservation and federal regulations.

When you hear the word "river," you probably picture a majestic body of water flowing through a natural habitat. Well, the LA River looks nothing like that. Most people who see it probably mistake it for a giant storm drain. It's a deep trapezoidal channel with steep concrete walls, and a flat concrete bottom. Los Angeles was founded around this river. But decades ago it was confined in concrete so that, for better or worse, the city could become the sprawling metropolis that it is today. All these years later the county is still grappling with the consequences of those actions.

Reported by Gillian Jacobs, guest hosted by 99PI producer, Vivian Le.

A River Runs Through Los Angeles

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