1. A Public Participation Program for the Park 101 VisionDecember 2, 2009Report prepared by:Aurea Adao Patrick HunterJustine JohnsonClement LauAubrey RelfMelissa Watson

2. TABLE OF CONTENTSSection Page1. INTRODUCTION/CONTEXT 1 Clement Lau2. DEMOGRAPHICS AND STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS10 Aubrey Relf3. BRANDING/MARKETING 19 Justine Johnson4. OUTREACH 23 Melissa Watson5. INREACH32 Aurea Adao6. RESULTS39 Patrick HunterREFERENCES44APPENDICES PowerPoint Presentation Examples of Collateral MaterialReport EditorClement LauPresentation CoordinatorAubrey Relf i 3. TABLE OF CONTENTSPageLIST OF TABLESTable 1: Total Parks and Open Space as Percentage of City Area5Table 2: Childrens Park Access in Seven Major Cities 6Table 3: Major Cap Park Proposals in Los Angeles County 8Table 4: Strengths/Benefits and Weaknesses/Costs of Cap Parks 9Table 5: Downtown Organizations/Groups17Table 6: Traditional Media Strategies 30Table 7: New Media Strategies 31LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1: Public Participation Program Design Methodology Pyramid 1Figure 2: Timeline of Public Participation Program2Figure 3: Location of Proposed Park 101 3Figure 4: Park 101 Proposal 4Figure 5: Top 20 Largest Cities in California 11Figure 6: Native Languages Spoken 12Figure 7: Los Angeles Demographics by Race from 2000-2007 12Figure 8: Map of Park 101 Surrounding Tracts13Figure 9: Languages Spoken by Tracts13Figure 10: Demographics by Race and Ethnicity within Tracts 13Figure 11: Population by Age and Gender in 2008 14Figure 12: Population by Age Group between 1990 and 200814Figure 13: Decline of Homeownership Rates of Large U.S. Cities15Figure 14: 2007 LA MSA Industries by Location Quotient16Figure 15: Examples of Dream Green Giveaways19Figure 16: Four Levels of the Public23Figure 17: Parkcycle28Figure 18: Sample Questionnaire 29Figure 19: Workshop Seating Diagram 33Figure 20: Walking Tour Route 35Figure 21: Changes in Outreach and Inreach40Figure 22: Four Categories of Participants41Figure 23: Integrated Public Participation Process42ii 4. INTRODUCTIONThis report presents a legitimate and credible public participation program designed to enhancepublic awareness to the Park 101 vision by ensuring that those who wish to participate in allfacets of the process are provided an opportunity and are encouraged to do so. Specifically,this program seeks to:1. Identify all stakeholders and interested parties;2. Enhance public awareness to the Park 101 vision;3. Objectively educate the public; and4. Facilitate a series of public meetings designed to explore the advantages and disadvantages of the vision, culminating with public hearings conducted by decision- making authorities.Our objective is to ensure maximum participation in a process designed to raise awareness to aconcept or vision by ensuring everyone who desires is given a chance to participate and beinvolved. Our focus is on raising public awareness to a vision and facilitating a public dialogueas to whether the park should be built.Our public participation program consists of six components as illustrated in Figure 1 below.Figure 1: Public Participation Program Design Methodology PyramidIntroduction/Context: This component is the foundation of our public participation program. The other five sections build upon the information provided in the Introduction/Context. The Introduction states the purpose and scope of our public participation program, and describes the proposed Park 101. The Context section details the existing conditions and issues related to the proposed project and its location. 1 5. Demographics/Stakeholder Identification: The accurate measurement andinterpretation of changes in social and demographic conditions are critical to publicparticipation. This section offers the social and demographic profile of the City of LosAngeles and the immediate neighborhood in which Park 101 is proposed to be built. Branding/Marketing: Branding/marketing is necessary to captivate the publicsattention on the potential development of Park 101. This section explains our strategiesto give the public unbiased information that does not explicitly state support or oppositionof the park. Outreach Strategies: This section describes our outreach approach and strategies.Outreach refers to efforts that take information to the people. It represents the mostfundamental of the public participation strategies and is conducted at the earliest stagesof the program. Inreach Strategies: This section describes our inreach approach and strategies.Inreach refers to those strategies designed to bring people to the event. Examplesinclude advisory groups, workshops, charrettes, and open house. Results: This section defines the successful outcomes for the public participationprogram. Specifically, it explains the four ways we are using to measure success.TimelineThe proposed timeline of our 12-month public participation program is shown in Figure 2 below:Figure 2: Timeline of Public Participation ProgramTimeframes for the five tasks overlap because every stage of a successful public participationprocess must be integrated. In other words, every stage of the process is not independent ofthe other, but rather interdependent. 2 6. The ProjectPark 101 is a vision for a 100-acre urban park serving downtown and adjacent neighborhoodssuch as Chinatown and Little Tokyo, all of which lack adequate open space. It would involvebuilding a lid or cap above a portion of the Hollywood Freeway (U.S. 101) and its exit ramps(see Figure 3 below). This proposal would incorporate nearby parking lots and underused landnext to the freeway, and reconfigure the Civic Center areaconverting an eyesore into anurban park and walkable, vibrant urban neighborhood.Figure 3: Location of Proposed Park 101Park 101 is the vision of a group of college students from around the world who participated inEDAWs Intern Program in June 2008. (EDAW is one of the worlds leading land andenvironment-based planning and design firms.) The interns were asked this question: How canwe reconnect the citys historic core north of the Hollywood Freeway with the civic, cultural andfinancial centers to the south? Their solution, Park 101, proposes to cap a half-mile length ofthis freeway with an urban park in the heart of downtown Los Angeles (see Figure 4). Theproposal reconnects the citys historic core at El Pueblo, north of the freeway, with the civic,cultural, and financial districts of modern Los Angeles to the south. The project provides aunique opportunity to shape a new direction for downtown. Focused on a relatively small areastraddling the 101 Freeway and situated in an existing maze of roadways, Park 101 is a newinitiative to remake Los Angeles into a more sustainable and livable city. Communities mostbenefiting from Park 101 are the densely urbanized and park-poor communities of inner LosAngeles. The proposal seeks to provide these communities and the greater Los Angeles withlong term benefits by stitching together the urban fabric, strengthening the transportation systemand extending the possibilities for a more sustainable place of choice in which to live and work.3 7. Figure 4: Park 101 ProposalAccording to EDAW, the Park 101 proposal focuses on six design principles: Maximize Regional Connectivity Develop a Pedestrian Focus Provide Flexibility of Open Space Reconnect Communities Be a Regenerative Tool Create a Wow Factor4 8. CONTEXTIn 1930 the Olmsted Brothers and Bartholomew & Associates submitted a report titled Parks,Playgrounds, and Beaches in the Los Angeles Region to the Los Angeles Chamber ofCommerce.1 The report proposed a comprehensive and coherent network of parks,playgrounds, schools, beaches, forests, and transportation to promote the social, economic, andenvironmental vitality of Los Angeles and the health of its people. The report also called for theshared use of parks and schools to make optimal use of land and public resources. TheOlmsted-Bartholomew Plan was a model of ambitious and bold planning commissioned at atime when land was available and the regions population was growing tremendously. However,the plan was never adopted and only segments of the report have been implemented to datedue to a variety of political, economic, and financial reasons.2Today Los Angeles is one of the most park-poor cities in the United States. With only 10percent of its total area devoted to parks and open space, Los Angeles is behind all other majorcities of the west coast (see Table 1) and ranks below New York and Philadelphia. In addition,parks and open spaces are distributed unevenly in the region, with a significant portion ofparkland located away from the urban core and underserved communities such as South LosAngeles. Griffith Park, for example, has an area of over 4,000 acres, but does not provide forthe active recreation elements typically available in an urban park.3 The park consists primarilyof rugged hillsides and mountains, and is difficult to reach without a car. Its facilities, includingpicnic tables and parking, are so limited that visitors are often turned away on weekends duringsummer months. Table 1: Total Parks and Open Space as Percentage of City Area CityCity AreaTotal Parks/Open Park/Open Space as (in acres) Space (in acres)Percentage of City Area Los Angeles 300,35230,121 10.0% San Diego 207,36036,108 17.4% San Francisco29,888 7,594 25.4% Seattle53,696 6,194 11.5% Portland 79,80812,591 15.8% Source: Harnik, 2000.Another indicator of park needs in a community is access as measured by the percentage ofchildren within walking distance or one-quarter mile of a park.4 Los Angeles offers its children1Hise, G. & Deverell, W. (2000). Eden by Design: the 1930 Olmsted-Bartholomew Plan for the LosAngeles Region, p. 1.2For more information on this report, please refer to book by Hise and Deverell.3Active recreation requires constructed facilities such as basketball courts and fields for soccer, softballand football.4Most cities and counties rely on National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) standards todetermine whether they have enough parks. These standards are expressed in terms of acres per 1,000residents. While these standards may be helpful as general measures of the availability of parkland, they 5 9. the worst access to parks among the seven major cities evaluated.5 As shown in Table 2, onlyone-third of the citys children live within walking distance of a park.Table 2: Childrens Park Access in Seven Major CitiesCity Percentage of Number of childrenchildren within one-not within one-quarter quarter mile of a park mile of a parkLos Angeles33% 657,700Los Angeles County36% 1,694,400Boston 97%2,900Dallas 42% 182,800New York 91% 178,500San Diego65% 102,300San Francisco85%16,700Seattle79%18,600Source: Trust for Public Land, 2004.Access to and availability of public facilities for physical activity, such as parks and playgrounds,have an important role in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Research shows that whenpeople have access to parks, they are more likely to exercise, which can reduce obesity and itsassociated costs and problems.6 A number of studies reviewed in the American Journal ofPreventive Medicine showed that creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activitycombined with informational outreach produced a 48 percent increase in the frequency ofphysical activity.7 These studies also found that easy access to a place to exercise resulted in a5 percent median increase in aerobic capacity, along with weight loss, a reduction in body fat,and improvements in flexibility.8There are unfair park, school, and health disparities in Los Angeles based on race, ethnicity,income, poverty, youth, and access to cars.9 Children of color disproportionately live inwere established decades earlier and do not accurately reflect the dynamic environment and variety ofcommunities today. NRPA standards, for example, do not address access nor do they include manytypes of open space common in urban environments such as greenbelts and trails. In addition, thesestandards are silent on the issue of equity; the same standards are used regardless of whether acommunity is currently park-poor or park-rich.5Trust for Public Land. (2004, November). No place to play: a comparative analysis of park access inseven major cities, p. 6.6Gies, E. (2006). The Health Benefits of Parks, p. 8.7Kahn, E. et al (2002). The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Physical Activity. American Journalof Preventive Medicine, pp. 87-88.8Ibid.9Garca, R. & White, A. (2006). Healthy Parks, Schools, and Communities: Mapping Green Access andEquity for Los Angeles Region, p. 3. 6 10. communities of concentrated poverty without enough parks and playgrounds to play in, and donot have the means to reach parks and school fields in other neighborhoods. The healthimplications of the lack of physical activity are significant. Children in underserved communitiesare much more likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes, and other diseases related to inactivity.10Garca and White (2006) even declared that this is the first generation in the history of thiscountry in which children will have a lower life expectancy than their parents if present trendscontinue (p. 3).Funding for parks and recreation is also unevenly distributed. In most communities, newneighborhood parks are funded through the Quimby Act which requires developers to helpmitigate the impacts of residential subdivisions on parks and recreational resources.Specifically, the Act requires developers to either build new parks or pay a fee to the local parksdepartment which then uses the money to develop new parks or improve existing parks in thearea of the proposed development. While the Quimby Act supplements the limited budget ofpark agencies, it only maintains the status quo and does not address existing inequities in theprovision of parks. Quimby fees are only generated in areas where new development isoccurring. Because few new housing units have been built in economically depressed,underserved neighborhoods, very limited fees have been collected there.Fortunately, a coalition of community-based environmental and social justice groups hasemerged recently to lead efforts to address inequities in the provision of parks in Los Angeles.This coalition is trying to revive the Olmsted-Bartholomew vision and has experienced somesuccess along the Los Angeles River and at nearby lands that were previously slated for non-park development. Specific examples include the Cornfield near Chinatown and Taylor Yard,both of which have been developed with new state parks serving inner city residents.11In addition, the business community as well as planning and design professionals haveadvocated for new large urban parks in Los Angeles seeking to duplicate the success of NewYork Citys Central Park. Park 101 is one of the proposals.12 Another is the proposed 44-acreHollywood Freeway Central Park which has the backing of the Hollywood Chamber ofCommerce and a long list of politicians.13 Proponents of both parks believe that the parks wouldoffer economic benefits in addition to addressing the park deficit in Los Angeles, including:enhancing real estate values, and attracting tourists and businesses. Crompton (2001)demonstrates through his studies that the economic values of parks can be measured and theireconomic benefits can be realized through appropriate design, siting, maintenance, andmarketing.1410 Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (2007, October). Preventing childhood obesity: theneed to create healthy places, p. 5.11 More information regarding the Cornfield and Taylor Yard are provided in Arnold (2007)s Fair andHealthy Land Use: Environmental Justice and Planning, pp. 112-113.12 Davies, V. (2008, August). A Central Park for Los Angeles? Urban Land, 67(8), pp. 42-45.13 Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. (2007). Fact Sheet: Hollywood Freeway Central Park.14 Crompton, J.L. (2001). Parks and economic development. 7 11. Cap ParksBoth Park 101 and the Hollywood Freeway Central Park are proposed cap parks. Cap parks,also referred to as highway parks, are parks that are built over segments of freeways. A 2007TPL study found that there are over 20 cap parks in the United States and at least a dozenmore in various stages of planning.15 The average size of the countrys cap parks is nine acresand each covers 1,620 linear feet of highway. The study also discovered that projects wherefreeways are already below grade are more feasible than others.Civic and business leaders as well as planners and architects have proposed several cap parksin Los Angeles. Los Angeles seems ideal for new cap parks. The countys extensive networkof freeways translates to numerous locations that may be capped with new parks. The threemajor cap park proposals in the Los Angeles area are: Hollywood Freeway Central Park, Park101, and the Pasadena Great Park. Table 3 provides a summary of these proposals.Table 3: Major Cap Park Proposals in Los Angeles CountyCap ParkHollywood Freeway Park 101 PasadenaProposal Central ParkGreat ParkLocation Hollywood Downtown L.A.PasadenaAbove 101 Freeway Above 101 Freeway, half- Above 210 Freeway between Sunset & mile long stretch each of between Fair Oaks AvenueHollywood Boulevard 110 Freeway interchangebridge & Wilson Avenue overpassesbridge.Size44 acres100 acres 50 acresConstruction$950 million $700 million*No estimate availableCostMajor Hollywood Chamber EDAW design firm West PasadenaProponents of Commerce CaltransResidents AssociationPoliticians16 Metro City of Pasadena SCAG City of Los Angeles DowntownNeighborhood CouncilSources: EDAW/AECOM, 2008; V. Davies, 2008; M. Persico, 2008.* This appears to be a gross estimate given that the smaller Hollywood Freeway Central Park will cost $950 million.As of this writing, there are no vocal opponents to the above proposals. However, commutersmay have concerns about being stuck in tunnels for lengthy periods during traffic jams.1715Harnik, P. & Welle, B. (2007, April). Nature over traffic. Urban Land, 66(4), p. 102.16Politicians include: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council President Eric Garcetti, City CouncilmanTom LaBonge, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Diane Watson, former State Senator andCounty Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and California Assemblyman Mike Feuer. As of this writing, nopoliticians have officially endorsed the Park 101 and Pasadena Great Park proposals. 8 12. Construction costs for cap parks can be very high, as evidenced by the expected price tags ofthe Hollywood Freeway Central Park and Park 101. However, the land may be free, madeavailable as air rights by Caltrans. This can translate to a multimillion-dollar gift in urbanlocations. For example, land costs $2 million to $3 million per acre near the Santa Ana Freewayby Los Angeles City Hall.18 Various local, state, and federal funds may be used to finance capparks. One approach is to create a tax increment financing district, whereby future increasedtax revenue is used to pay back the costs of the park. Other local funding sources includepublic works capital funds or municipal bonds. The federal or state government may also payfor the cap, while the city finances the actual park development.Because of their location, cap parks may expose future park users to potential health threatsrelated to poor air quality and excessive noise. In particular, a USC study has shown thatchildren living near freeways are more likely to develop asthma.19 The environmental impacts ofthe three cap park proposals have not been evaluated yet. An environmental impact report(EIR) will be prepared for the proposed Hollywood Freeway Central Park and should beavailable for public review in 2010. EIRs will also be required for the other two proposals whenthey are further along in the planning process.Table 4 summarizes the strengths/benefits and weaknesses/costs of cap parks.Table 4: Strengths/Benefits and Weaknesses/Costs of Cap ParksStrengths/Benefits Weaknesses/Costs Create large new parks in urban areas.Construction, operation, and maintenance Land may be generally free.costs are high due to large size of parks. Enhance adjacent property values. Time and process required for park development will be lengthy. Attract businesses and visitors.Only one or two cap parks will likely be Large park proposals appeal to a muchpursued at a time due to costs andbroader audience than smaller projects.complexity of these projects.Political and business leaders are eager tosupport grand visions of large new urban parksExpose park users to: 1) potential healthin Los Angeles.risks related to air quality and noise; and 2) potential safety risks since pedestrian Build on successes elsewhere including access to cap parks may be dangerous.Seattles Freeway Park.Parks may attract the homeless and gang members.17 Pool, B. (2008, November 19). Plan for park atop Hollywood Freeway is praised. Los Angeles Times, p.B3.18 Harnik, P. & Welle, B. (2007, April). Nature over traffic. Urban Land, 66(4), p. 103.19 Gauderman, W. J. et al (2007). Effect of exposure to traffic on lung development from 10 to 18 years ofage: a cohort study. The Lancet, 368, pp. 535-537. The study, which tracked 3,600 children for 13 years,found that those living within 500 yards of a highway faced risk of permanent health damage, includingstunted lung growth and respiratory problems. 9 13. DEMOGRAPHICS AND STAKEHOLDER ANALYSISThe accurate measurement and interpretation of changes in social and demographic conditionsare critical to public participation. Misinterpretation of social and demographic change canresult in erroneous urban policies and projects that have adverse impacts on the disengagedpublic. Failure to grasp the significance of demographic changes can also result in anillegitimate public participation process that overlooks the diverse cultures, multi-layered issues,and the various realms of social, ecological, and economic characteristics that are unique to aspecific place. Such failure also lessens the credibility of the decision-making process andopposes the tenet of participation: two-way communication and interaction, with the overall goalof better decisions that are supported by the public (Creighton, 2005). This two-waycommunication is legitimized when the organization conducting the process engagesparticipants that reflect the community impacted by the decision-making process.ObjectiveThe objective of this analysis is to maximize two-way communication by first understanding thepopulation, identity, and languages of Los Angeles. This analysis offers a demographic profileof the City of Los Angeles and the immediate neighborhood in which Park 101 is proposed to bebuilt. We analyze the population, age, gender, housing characteristics, and languages spokenin Los Angeles and the neighborhood in order to strategically target all aspects of thecommunity and maximize the legitimacy of the participation process. Furthermore, the level ofinteraction between an organization and the public depends significantly on the ability to speaka common language and to appeal to the various age and race/ethnic groups that comprise thecommunity.MethodologyData was collected from the U.S. Census Bureaus 1990 and 2000 Decennial analysis data setsby tract level. We also used 2007 and 2008 American Community Survey (ACS) data setsavailable on the Census website. The ACS data sets do not offer data by tract level, but providethe most recent, comprehensive information by city level, allowing one to trace and studychanges over time. As described in the findings section, the data collected from these sourcesreveal the diversity and uniqueness of Los Angeles and its residents.In addition to data available through the Census Bureau, interviews with community membersand observations of places within Los Angeles and its downtown neighborhoods yieldedfoundational information that is necessary for us to design a legitimate participation process.Information was also retrieved from HealthyCity.org to identify potential stakeholders, includingpublic agencies, private businesses and corporations, nonprofits and other community-basedorganizations, and other groups. HealthyCity.org is an online community service and policyresearch tool for all of Los Angeles County, and provides access to a large database ofcommunity resources and localized demographic and health data on a GIS mapping platform.10 14. FindingsThe findings of our demographic analysis are presented on the following pages. Ourparticipation strategies (to be described in subsequent sections) are based upon the findings ofthis analysis.Population and LanguageWith a population of 3.7 million residents, Los Angeles is the largest city in the State ofCalifornia. However, not only is Los Angeles very populated, it is also incredibly diverse. Tofacilitate legitimate participation, unique strategies of parade building in Los Angeles isessential. Figure 5 below shows the population of the 20 largest cities in California.Figure 5: Top 20 Largest Cities in CaliforniaSource: U.S. Census Bureau, SF3, table B01003.The sheer size of Los Angeles population complicates the ability to attract and engage thepublic within its boundaries. Consequently, to meet the challenge of engaging so manyresidents, a systematic approach to outreach must be implemented by focusing on smallergroups, such as younger age groups, ethnic/cultural communities, linguistically isolatedneighborhoods, and other groups. This approach makes outreach to the masses moremanageable by targeting smaller groups with unique interest(s) and characteristics. It alsoincreases legitimacy by recognizing groups that have traditionally been overlooked by top-downefforts of decision-making and through outreach techniques that focus only on the majority ofthe population while excluding minority groups. Further understanding and analysis of the cityspopulation is critical to elevating the level of engagement within its boundaries. In particular, astudy of the languages spoken is necessary and helpful.Methods of public outreach must address and reflect the diversity of the citys population andthe multiple languages spoken within its boundaries. Identifying the proportion of thosepopulations who do not speak English well is critical to the facilitation of legitimate participation.These groups make up linguistically isolated communities which present challenges to effective 11 15. two-way communication. Figure 6 shows that among Los Angeles residents who do not havecommand of the English language, the Spanish-speaking community accounted for the largestshare (23.2 percent). Outreach strategies must take this information into consideration.Figure 6: Native Languages Spoken by People who Do Not Speak English Well in Los AngelesSource: 2008 U.S. Census Bureau, SF3, table B16001.Race and EthnicityRelated to language is information related to race and ethnicity. Figure 7 below shows therace/ethnic break-down of the citys population and trends from 2000 to 2007. Los Angeles hasa very diverse population. Latinos represent the majority of the citys population, increasingfrom 46.5 percent in 2000 to 48.5 percent in 2007. Also, Whites make up a significant, butgradually declining portion; as of 2007, Whites accounted for 29.3 percent. The AfricanAmerican and Asian shares of the population were both at approximately 10 percent in 2007.Figure 7: Percent Share of Los Angeles Demographics by Race from 2000-2007Source: 2000, 2007 U.S. Census Bureau, SF3, P7, B03002.12 16. In efforts to include all groups within decision-making, we also examined data at the tract levelto capture the unique composition of the immediate neighborhood in which Park 101 isproposed. Thus, in addition to data for the entire City of Los Angeles, focused analysis of thisneighborhood is necessary to ensure that no pockets of areas are overlooked within theparticipation process. After all, if the demographic analysis does not hone into the specificneighborhoods surrounding a proposed development, the overall study may be misleading andresult in marginalized communities being overlooked. To ensure adequate opportunities toparticipate in decision-making are afforded to all groups, further analysis of language, race, andethnicity was conducted in communities immediately surrounding the proposed site of Park 101.Language and Ethnicity in Tracts Surrounding Park 101Our research reveals that there are many Chinese speakers in two tracts surrounding Park 101(see Figure 9). In particular, Asians account for over 80 percent of the total population in tract2071 (see Figure 10). This is not surprising because this tract includes Chinatown. Theproportion of Asians and Chinese speakers are also high in tract 2060.1 located northeast ofdowntown. However, the proportion of Spanish speakers in this tract is actually higher. Alsonoteworthy is the high proportion of English-only speakers in tract 2074 (88 percent).Figure 8: Map of Park 101 Surrounding TractsFigure 9: Languages Spoken by TractsFigure 10: Demographics by Race and Ethnicity within Tracts Surrounding Proposed Park 101Source: 2008 U.S. Census Bureau, SF3, table P7.13 17. Age and Cohort Analysis of Los AngelesOutreach strategies must also consider the age and gender composition of the population.Figure 11 offers the age and gender profile of Los Angeles population. Noteworthy are thatmen have a 10 percent larger share of the total population than women and that the 25 to 34group is largely populated by men.Figure 11: Population by Age and Gender in 2008Source: 2008 U.S. Census Bureau, SF3, Table B01001.Figure 12 offers further analysis based on age. It displays a cohort analysis which traces thetrends of age-groups at three points in time. It illustrates a dramatic decline in the 25 to 34 agegroup from 2000 to 2008, while the 35 to 44 age group accounted for the largest share of totalpopulation in 2008. These findings may help an organization to better facilitate two-waycommunication by relating to issues associated with the paradigm shifts that have taken placeover time and by recognizing the divergent views among certain age groups.Figure 12: Percent of Total Population by Age Group in Los Angeles between 1990 and 2008Source: U.S. Census Bureau 1990, 2000, 2008, SF3, Tables P013, P8, B01001Tabulation: age-group/total population*10014 18. Designing outreach strategies to reflect cohorts and age-groups may yield better results bytargeting all age groups and by appealing to the various issues related to paradigm shifts thathave taken place over time. Knowing an age groups percent share of the population andunderstanding changes over time can help design methods of outreach that facilitate high levelsof community engagement.HousingAnalyzing social demographics along with housing characteristics can shed light on additionalissues faced by individuals within a community and shape outreach strategies that considerboth small and large interests groups. Being aware of public issues and concerns is importantin the development of effective outreach strategies. An example of such issues is the decline inhomeownership. As shown in Figure 13, Los Angeles is not the only major city facing thisproblem. Amidst the economic crises felt throughout the nation, Los Angeles homeownershiprate dropped significantly from 2000 to 2008 (61.4 to 39.4 percent).Figure 13: Decline of Homeownership Rates of Large U.S. Cities from 2000 to 2008Source: 2000, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau, SF3, Tables H007001 B25003.The level of homeownership is significant and relevant to public participation. In particular, onemay argue and interpret the loss of homeowners as an increase of renters who may not be asinvested in their communities as owners. Thus, an erosion of public participation in these areasmay occur. In contrast to this possible interpretation of the data, one may revisit the case of theredevelopment of Santa Monicas downtown and understand that, Its success was in large partdue to the mobilization of renters who had been civically engaged as a result of their oppositionto crooked landlords and rent control issues in their community (Denny Zane, former Mayor ofSanta Monica, California).Regardless of whether renters or owners are more civically engaged, it is clear that identifyingissues that permeate a community through demographic analyses can be instrumental incommunicating and interacting effectively with the public. Organizers should be well aware ofimportant community issues, facilitate input from concerned members, and collaborate withneighborhood councils or other groups that cater to various social, economic, and 15 19. environmental aspects of a specific locality. Doing so will lay the foundation upon which to builda legitimate participation process.Location Quotient AnalysisCooperation and partnership with the business community is vital to realizing feasible park plansfor downtown Los Angeles. A location quotient analysis was conducted to identify majorbusiness sectors in Los Angeles. Location quotient analysis is a technique used to identify theconcentration of an industrial sector in a local economy relative to a larger reference economy.It is shown as a ratio between the percentage of employment in an industry locally to thepercentage of employment in the same industry found in the state or nation being used as areference. If the ratio of the local to the reference economy is greater than one, it means thatthe industry is concentrated (overrepresented) in the local area compared to the referenceeconomy. If the ratio is less than one, however, the industry is locally underrepresented. In thiscase, Los Angeles Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is the local economy and the U.S. is thereference economy. An example of a LQ analysis is shown in Figure 14 by tabulating dataretrieved from the 2000 2007 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The calculation used was:Location quotient (LQ) = Local Sector employment / Local Total Employment Reference Sector Employment / Reference Total EmploymentFigure 14 shows that many sectors within the entertainment industry are highly concentrated inthe Los Angeles MSA. Consequently, common interests with or concerns about thedevelopment of Park 101 held by key players among Los Angeles industrial sectors should beidentified.Figure 14: 2007 LA MSA Industries by Location QuotientSource: 2007 Business of Labor and Statistics Data by Los Angeles MSA vs. the U.S.Tabulation: Location quotient (LQ) = Los Angeles Sec empl / Los Angeles total empl U.S. sec empl / U.S. total empl16 20. StakeholdersWe also retrieved information from HealthyCity.org to identify potential stakeholders,including public agencies, private businesses and corporations, nonprofits, and othercommunity-based organizations.The following list (Table 5) identifies possibleorganizations that may be instrumental to implementing outreach strategies in downtownLos Angeles. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but offers a glimpse as to thediversity of organizations operating in and around downtown.Table 5: Downtown Organizations/GroupsName of Organization/Group Address1. Castelar Elementary School 840 N. Yale St., Los Angeles, CA 900122. Alpine Recreation Center 817 Yale St., Los Angeles, CA 900123. Chinatown Service Center 767 N. Hill St., Ste. 108, Los Angeles, CA 900124. Evans Community Adult School 717 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 900125. Altamed Grand Plaza Adult Day701 W. Cesar Chavez, Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA Health Care Center 900126. LA City Library - Chinatown Branch 639 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 900127. Station No. 4 - N. Main St.800 N. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 900128. CA Community Tech Policy Group 1000 Alameda St., Ste. 240, Los Angeles, CA 900129. Teen Post Chinatown600 N. Broadway, Ste. D, Los Angeles, CA 9001210. Chinatown Senior Services Center600 N. Broadway, Ste. B, Los Angeles, CA 9001211. Chinese Committee On Aging600 N. Broadway, Ste. C, Los Angeles, CA 9001212. Center Theatre Group601 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 9001213. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 9001214. Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic 535 N. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012Church15. First District-Supervisor Gloria Molina 500 W. Temple St., Rm. 856, Los Angeles, CA9001216. LA County Office of Affirmative Action500 W. Temple St., Rm. 780, Los Angeles, CA9001217. LA County Chief Executive Office500 W. Temple St., Rm. 358, Los Angeles, CA9001218. LA County Business License500 W. Temple St., Rm 374, Los Angeles, CA 90012Commission19. LA County Board of Supervisors500 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 9001220. LA County Consumer Affairs500 W. Temple St., B-96, Los Angeles, CA 9001221. LA County Office of County Counsel500 West Temple St. 648, Los Angeles, CA 9001222. LA County Domestic Violence Council 500 W. Temple St., B-50, Los Angeles, CA 90012Source: HealthyCity.org, 2009. 17 21. The Outreach section of this paper describes a strategic approach of collaboration withspecific large scale corporations and organizations.SummaryThis section is intended to improve our understanding of potential stakeholders of the proposedPark 101 project, including residents in both adjacent neighborhoods and the City of LosAngeles as a whole. The location quotient analysis and information obtained viaHealthyCity.org help us to identify potential partners including public agencies, privatecorporations and businesses, nonprofit organizations, community-based groups, and otherleaders within the community. Our findings enable us to develop an intelligent approach tofacilitating the underpinning theme of legitimate participation, Interaction with the overall goal ofbetter decisions that are supported by the public (Creighton, 2005).The data revealed that outreach and inreach strategies must not only appeal to the majority ofthe population, but must also target and attract smaller segments of the public whose voiceshave historically been unheard. This targeted strategy increases the quantity of participants aswell as the quality of the participation process.Informed decisions and strategies are critical to both the effective and efficient implementationof public outreach techniques. The findings of this section can guide our approach to outreachand influence strategic partnerships with collaborative entities in these areas that may havedeveloped a rapport with members of the community. These partnerships are invaluable tofacilitating effective two-way communication and civic engagement within these communities.As an additional approach to building effective two-way communication between organizationsand the public, organizations should proactively create cultural awareness amongst theirinternal staff and understand the specific segments of the public prior to outreach. This willmaximize legitimacy of the participation process and attract higher quantities of participantsthrough more intelligent approaches to outreach. 18 22. BRANDING/MARKETINGThe growth of social media and innovative public outreach techniques has inspired us to createa set of strategies that meet the dual objectives of: 1) educating the public and 2) provoking asocial movement centered on the need and importance of parks in Los Angeles. The purposeof branding Park 101 is to captivate the publics attention on the potential development of thepark. Our strategies focus on providing the public with unbiased information that does notexplicitly state favor or opposition of the proposed park. Simply put, we seek to enhance thepublics education about Park 101 by stimulating public awareness. Our recommendedstrategies include the following: Create an attractive slogan; Provide public giveaways; Put up noticeable signage in public places; Collaborate with private businesses, corporations, and foundations; and Identify celebrity spokesperson(s).SloganIn order for Park 101 to spark a social movement, people must have something that grabs theirattention. Appealing slogans are an effective tool for marketing products in the for-profit sector.Similarly, we decided to utilize this approach in establishing a slogan that represents Park 101.The goal of the slogan is to draw attention to Park 101 in a manner that does not create abiased opinion as to the ultimate future of the park proposal.Dream Green is our proposed slogan. We see this phrase as catchy, yet simple. This phrasecan encourage and motivate the public to think futuristically about parks and green space.Dream Green is more than just a slogan; our team envisions this phrase as the start of asignificant movement. Dream Green will become a familiar phrase that can be recognized inpublic giveaways.GiveawaysThe demographic characteristics of the communities around Park 101 will determine the typesof giveaways that should be provided to the public. Our earlier analysis revealed that many ofthe people living in neighborhoods near the proposed Park 101 are Latino and Asian within theage range of 25-54. The combination of rising millennials, Generation Y, and Generation X thatcomprise the area also help us to determine the appropriate type of giveaways for this targetedpopulation.The diverse set of languages spoken in the area also requires that the Dream Green sloganbe displayed in different languages to meet the linguistic needs of the population. Oursuggested giveaways include the following: T-shirts, hats, buttons, rubber green bracelets,drinking canteens, recyclable tote bags, pens, key rings, magnets and bumper stickers (seeFigure 15). The giveaways will be provided for those who participate: in public meetings19 23. (workshops, open house, etc), on the community advisory committee, in charrettes, at the parkpicnic, and in the mobile park and kiosks.Figure 15: Examples of Dream Green GiveawaysThe purpose of the giveaways is to provide the public with an item to personalize on theirexperience of dreaming big about the present and future needs of green space in Los Angeles.Each item that displays the Dream Green slogan sparks the external pressure for people tooutwardly show their pride in engaging in a momentous event. Public giveaways are importantto the branding process, but the reach has to impact the population that may not want to engagein public events.SignagePublic signage is necessary to reach those who may not be interested in participating in Park101 public events. The targeted population for this strategy is the 20 percent of people that arenot interested or vested in public participation. By using attractive signage that has bold lettersof DREAM GREEN followed by small letters with a website and phone number naturally drawsattention to the human eye. These signs should be located inside and outside of buses andtrains, at bus stop benches, and posters in public buildings such as libraries and schools. Theprominence of signage around the vicinity of Park 101 will help to foster inquisitiveness of those20 24. that seek to understand what Dream Green actually means. Visual appeal and graphic designhelp to captivate public attention. Signage will provide the inreach needed to promoteawareness and education through an individuals independent usage of the Park 101 websiteinformation and the Park 101 telephone hotline.CollaborationsTargeting the private sector (i.e. businesses, corporations, foundations) as an affiliate toassisting public participation is pivotal to the success of bringing awareness to Park 101. Forexample, those promoting Chicagos Millennium Park made great strides by bridging arelationship with the private sector. Millennium Park gained intrinsic (expertise) and extrinsic(financial) private sector support in the pre and post planning processes. Similarly, we suggestthat Park 101 uses Millennium Park as a best practice of relationship building when planning aparticipation model for Park 101. Corporations and foundations are usually interested in givingphilanthropic dollars to cause-related issues that involve environmental or social objectives.Presenting information to corporations and foundations about Park 101 and the goal ofenhancing civic engagement could be an attractive opportunity for private investment.Corporate sponsorship into the Dream Green movement benefits the corporation throughname recognition on Dream Green banners, posters, and t-shirts. Engaging the corporationand foundations into the branding process of Park 101 can provide the much neededknowledge, expertise, and financial resources.While large scale private reach is needed, the local business community is the best opportunityto visibly reach out to those in the local community. Establishing a positive relationship with thelocal business community near the vicinity can assist in getting the public engaged about Park101. Local businesses have a direct connection to the local community as they are frequentlyused by the local residents. For local businesses that are in support of Park 101s goal ofeducating and engaging the public, we propose giving each of them a Dream Green banner orposter that can be displayed in store fronts or office windows. The goal is to get the localbusiness community interested about the proposed Park 101 and publically display the need forthe public to get involved and Dream Green. Each business that is approached would begiven advertisement space if the owner agrees to put a Dream Green poster inside his/herbusiness. Businesses will also be given the option of having a larger size of advertisementspace for a $50 fee. Bookmark-like flyers will also be available with information about publicevents regarding Park 101.Private web companies can also muster the social capital that is needed to draw attention to theproposed Park 101. Building relationships with various social web companies such as Twitter,Google, MySpace, Facebook, and AOL allows us to reach a broad range of audiences that isnecessary for successful participation in Park 101. In addition, social websites that targetspecific interests of green space and parks in Los Angeles can trigger a worldwide movement ofpeople who are informed and abreast on the status of Park 101. Web companies such asGoogle allow their software engineers to use 20 percent of their time doing volunteer projectsthat interests them (Source: www.allforgood.org/about). We suggest that using collaboratingwith software engineers at Google will help to further expand the scope of public outreachthrough social technology. The innovative staff at Google could launch a website that isinteractive and allows people to link onto social media websites to state their awareness andposition about Park 101. Partnering with social websites puts more momentum behind theDream Green movement. The goal is to create the social pressure that is needed to pushpeople to feel compelled to participate.21 25. Spokesperson(s)Lastly, Park 101s Dream Green movement should have a local spokesperson(s) that thecommunity can identify with. The spokespersons should be reflective of the current populationand their dominant languages spoken. Based on our demographic analysis, the communitysurrounding the proposed Park 101 includes English, Spanish, and Chinese speakers. Thelocal spokesperson must be able to speak fluently in one or more of these predominantlanguages. We propose the following local spokespersons: Teresa Quevedo: Ms. Quevedo has over eighteen years of experience in Spanish newsjournalism. Ms. Quevedo has been anchor for weekday news program Noticias 34, onKMEX-TV Channel 34, for over 10 years. She is an ideal representative whom manyindividuals within the Latino community can identify with due to her familiar face onSpanish television station KMEX-TV Channel 34. Marc Brown: Mr. Brown is a news anchor for the top rated evening news programEyewitness News, which can be seen on KABC-TV Channel 7. With over eleven yearsof experience as news anchor for Eyewitness News, Mr. Brown would be an idealspokesperson that English speakers would recognize by face. Sharon Ha: Miss Ha was the crowned Queen of the 2008 Miss Los Angeles ChinatownPageant. Since 1963, the historic pageant has been going strong in the Los AngelesChinatown community.These spokespersons were selected because of their background, ability to speak in one ormore of the predominant languages, and their upbringing in the Los Angeles area.The local spokesperson(s) role in the Dream Green movement is to educate and stimulateawareness on the lack of green spaces in Los Angeles. The local spokesperson(s) should notexplicitly state their personal position on Park 101. Their responsibilities would include but notlimited to the following:1. Making public appearances at Dream Green events, such as the open house or mobile park kiosk;2. Wearing Dream Green apparel at public participation events (i.e. Dream Green T- shirt and hat);3. Partaking in television and radio commercials that educate the public on the current and future environmental trends in Los Angeles; and4. Using social media websites that encourage the public to Dream Green.The use of local spokesperson(s) is important to attracting a wider range of people that make upthe 70 percent of people that occasionally participate, as well as the 20 percent that does notparticipate at all. 22 26. OUTREACHOutreach is defined as all those activities where we take information out to the public: that is,activities where we go to them. This definition works in tandem with our definition for inreachstrategies in which the public comes to us for meetings, charrettes, field trips, etc. In order toinform the public about the Park 101 idea and gather input from them, outreach strategies areessential. Outreach strategies are key to sharing knowledge and gathering input in a manner inwhich members of the public does not have to change their routines in order to learn moreabout Park 101, and if done effectively will increase awareness of and participation in ourvarious inreach activities.MethodologyThe outreach strategies we have developed are designed to reach three levels of the public: 1)immediate neighbors of the Park 101 site; 2) people who live or work downtown or nearbyneighborhoods; and 3) people from the wider Los Angeles metropolitan region. Using newmedia and other methods, we will are also likely to reach a fourth level consisting of people wholive throughout the United States and possibly across the globe. As shown in Figure 16, thefour levels we will target can be illustrated as four concentric circles, with the inner circlerepresenting the smallest and most important target group and the outer circle representing thelargest and geographically broadest group.Figure 16: Four Levels of the Public 23 27. 1. Immediate Neighbors The first core group consists of immediate neighbors of the proposed Park 101 site. These are the people who will be most affected by the parks construction and presence. This group is vital. In this case, many of the immediate neighbors happen to be decision-makers as well (including City Hall) so it is especially important to make them feel like they are influential and a part of the process from the beginning. Other immediate neighbors include Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Central Los Angeles Area High School #9 for the Visual and Performing Arts, Union Station, and Pico House and other historic buildings east of the 101. Additional neighbors are identified in Table 5 of the Demographics section of this report.2. Downtown Los Angeles and Surrounding Neighborhoods This group consists of all people who live, work, or play in downtown Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods, including Chinatown and Little Tokyo. As the demographic data indicate, this is a very diverse group with varying ages, ethnicities, languages, professions, and lifestyles. Our outreach strategies are tailored to this diverse public, expressed in greater detail below.3. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Region Thanks to its incredible positioning at the heart of the regional transportation network, Park 101 has the potential to be a destination for people from all around the city of Los Angeles and the metropolitan region as a whole. The site is located across the street from Union Station, the hub of Metro rail, Metrolink, and Amtrak trains, as well as many Metro bus lines. Multiple major freeways pass near the site as well. Because of this wide impact, our outreach strategies must be equally broad so as to include the maximum number of stakeholders in the process.4. National and International New media strategies will enable us to easily reach a worldwide audience, sharing information with people interested in parks and the environment across the globe.The First Step: Briefing Key StakeholdersBefore going public, the first step in the outreach process consists of briefing key stakeholdersand decision-makers. These are personal visits to key stakeholders and agencies to informthem of the planned public participation program and invite them into the process early on so asto head off potential conflict or controversy later. By ensuring that they do not first learn of theDream Green public participation program in a newspaper (or worse from a vocal opponent ofthe project), we can avoid the risk of bad feelings. In addition to preventing potentialresentment, briefings are a good tool to get input from these key individuals and groups beforewe go out to the general public. If we can gain their support early on, they will feel moreownership over the process, can help shape it to make it more effective, and will likely help theDream Green movement as it progresses.We have identified the following eight elected officials, individuals, and groups that should bebriefed before commencing the public participation outreach strategies. Since the proposedpark is adjacent to the Civic Center, all briefings can be conducted without traveling far. Werecommend scheduling a few each day at each site so that you can complete them all within aweek, allowing us to quickly move on to following public outreach strategies.24 28. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 7 Tel: (213) 897-3656 o Park 101 is proposed as a cap park above the 101 Freeway and calls for the rerouting of several main streets that currently cross above the freeway, so Caltrans must be a key figure. It will also involve the transfer of Caltrans air rights above the freeway. Asking for their input and their support, and encouraging them to buy-in to the process early on will surely smooth out potential hurdles to come. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Tel: (213) 485-2121o As a major public figure and decision-maker in Los Angeles, Mayor Villaraigosashould be made aware of the campaign as soon as possible. He will also beinfluential in gathering support. This meeting should take place at City Hall, andwould ideally be scheduled the same day as the meetings with the City Counciland Councilmember Huizr. Los Angeles City Council Tel: (213) 473-7013 o Not only will the City Council affect this project as a major decision-maker, itslocation just one block away from the Park 101 site means City Hall will beaffected by the projectand benefit from the parkas well. Councilmember Ed Reyes, Council District #1 Tel: (213)-473-7001 Councilmember Jan Perry, Council District #9 Tel: (213)-473-7009 Councilmember Jose Huizr, Council District #14 Tel: (213) 473-701o The proposed Park 101 is of particular interest to three council districts: 1, 9, and14. We will meet with all three councilmembers and their field deputies as theyshould be some of the first people informed of the public participation program.They may find it in their best electoral interests to support a park project, as thepublic generally sees parks in a favorable light. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Tel: (213) 680-5200 o It is extremely important that the Cathedral be a part of this movement from thebeginning, and that we strive to take their concerns into account regardingpotential side effects of the construction of a park over the adjacent freeway.The church has already expressed concern that the proposed park would preventmotorists on the 101 from seeing its towering cross above them as they passthrough downtowna cross that was designed specifically with those drivers inmind. We will need to respond to their concern and establish from the beginningthat we wish to work with them to find a solution rather than fight against them orignore them. Union Station Tel: (310) 206-5388 o Union Station is the hub of rail transportation for the entire Los Angeles region,and an important neighbor to the Park 101 site. When meeting personally withstation leadership, it would be a good idea to discuss possible collaborationefforts to reach the maximum number of people with the Dream Green message,such as advertisements inside or outside trains and subways.25 29. El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Tel: (213) 485-6855o Pico House belongs to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, whichplays a central role in Park 101s vision of connecting the historic center withdowntown LA. This historic area is a major draw for tourists and it is importantthat they feel ownership over the park movement. Central Los Angeles Area High School #9 for the Visual and Performing Arts:Tel: (213) 241-7000 (Office of the Superintendent)o Directly across from the Catholic Church, the new LAUSD performing arts highschool is a gem of modern architecture and a symbol of pride for downtown LosAngeles. Students at the school will undoubtedly benefit from the construction ofa park adjacent to the school, but there may be some unanticipated negativeconsequences as well. Informing the LAUSD school board of our efforts toincrease awareness of the lack of green space downtown and the potential Park101 site will allow us to try to gain support from the school early on, which wouldbe a motivating symbol for the rest of the neighborhood. The Dream Greenmovement is, after all, all about the future of our great city.Presentation to Community GroupsAfter briefing the abovementioned stakeholders, we are ready to move onto the next step in theoutreach process: community group presentations. We have identified key groups to presentour program to: the two neighborhood councils that border the section of the 101 Freewayproposed for development and local business groups. We will still target groups in theimmediate area (the innermost circle), but by sharing at public meetings we will begin to reach awider audience.Local Neighborhood Council MeetingsWe recommend talking to the Neighborhood Council board members and arrange to presentinformation about the issues and the Park 101 proposal at their meeting. This will allow us todiscuss issues concerning the lack of park space in Los Angeles, the barrier created by thefreeway, how all this may affect our health and the health of our children, and related issues.The use of engaging graphics, such as a video, a good PowerPoint presentation, will help sparktheir interest. Then, we can present Park 101 as a possible response to those concerns, andinvite councilmembers input and input from the public. We will explain that we wish to get theconversation started so that the public will be educated about the park issue and, througheducation, be empowered to initiate or affect change. For collateral, we will prepare informativebrochures that are eye-catching but not too flashy: the public could be turned off if it appears weare wasting money, especially at a time of budget cuts and constraints.Because of the rich diversity of area residents, interpreters will be necessary. The HistoricCultural Neighborhood Council encompasses Chinatown and Little Tokyo, so Chinese andJapanese interpreters should be available. In addition, Spanish translators are necessary giventhe high numbers of Spanish speakers in tracts around the proposed Park 101. Translatorsmay also be necessary at the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. The brochureshould be made available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. This will also be a goodtime to begin collecting names, addresses, and email addresses for people interested in parkupdates and participation opportunities. Information about regular meetings held by theDowntown and Historical Cultural Neighborhood Councils are shown below:26 30. Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30pmL.A. TheaterJ. Russel Brown, PresidentTel: (213) 999-0379 Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7:30pm114 E. Paseo de la Plaza, Los AngelesKim Benjamin, PresidentTel: (310) 245-4470While this sector of the public is important, we need to keep in mind that the NeighborhoodCouncil board members and the participants who regularly attend these meetings onlyrepresent a small percentage of total stakeholders (the 10 percent). They are the people whoare typically interested and have time to come to meetings. Remember to bring Dream Greenparaphernalia to share (wristbands, key chains, T-shirts etc.). Neighborhood Councils are agreat place from which to launch the broader public participation campaign.The Private SectorCooperation and partnership with downtown business is vital to realizing feasible park plans fordowntown Los Angeles. Two groups we have identified for Park 101 informative presentationsare the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Los Angeles BusinessImprovement District. Involving them in the process will help build credibility with private sectorbusiness interests and demonstrate a commitment to cooperation between the private andpublic sectors. Los Angeles Area Chamber of (213) 580-7500 Commerce350 S. Bixel Street Los Angeles, CA 90017Downtown LA Business (213) 624-2146 Improvement District626 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200 Los Angeles, CA 90017Again, we need to be prepared with interpreters and prepare all materials in English, Spanish,Chinese, and Japanese. Also we need to bring items, such as buttons, wristbands, or T-shirts,to share with participants to thank them for their input.The Mobile Mini-Park Road ShowA.k.a. the ParkcycleBy taking this park on the road to various community events and spaces, this attention-grabbing, pedal powered mini-park will reach residents throughout the downtown area. Itssurprising presence should spark curiosity and get people thinking about green spaces and howhaving more park space could transform life in downtown Los Angeles. San Francisco-basedRebar Group has set a precedent for this innovative technique; we believe this model can behighly effective in our Dream Green campaign in Los Angeles. More information and ademonstrative video can be seen online at www.rebargroup.org/projects/parkcycle.27 31. Figure 17: Parkcycle The Parkcycle (see Figure 17) is an upbeat way to get the conversation going; passers-by can sit for a while and chat with staff about city parks, while staff can share more information about the Park 101 concept and provide informative fliers in various languages. In the spirit of the low-tech (watching the Parkcycle cruise down the street brings to mind Fred Flintstones feet powering his prehistoric car), participants will use pen and paper to respond to a few questions about the need for park space downtown and express their opinion about a park over the 101 freeway. A box will be provided to collect the anonymous votes that staff can use to tally later on. Staffwill also invite participants to leave additional comments or concerns if they would like. Figure18 is the sample questionnaire. All participants will receive some sort of Dream Greenparaphernalia for their participation. Staff members should be bilingual Spanish/English at aminimum. The mini-park will spend from one day to one week at each of the following locations:Location CommentsUnion StationCommuters, residents from across LA metro regionPerforming Arts High SchoolYouth and area residents(Outside)The Civic Center mallCivic employees, people who work downtown(Starbucks)Chinatown, Main Entrance Ethnic Chinese and Chinese-speaking residents, tourists, areaGate residentsLittle Tokyo Branch LibraryEthnic Japanese and Japanese-speaking residents, tourists, area residentsLA LiveResidents from across LA region, nighttime downtown usersEl Pueblo de Los Angeles Local residents, Spanish-speaking employees on Olvera Street, touristsHistoric MonumentDodgers StadiumResidents from across LA region, young and older sports fansDowntown Farmers Markets Wednesdays 11:30am 3:00pmPershing Square Thursdays 9:00am 3:00pm7th & Fig Fridays 11:00am 3:00pm Bank of America PlazaNote: Some locations may require special permission from the city to park our mini-park (in loading zonesor courtyards), and we will be sure to clear it with them first. 28 32. Figure 18: Sample QuestionnaireThank you for your participation. Please complete the following questionnaire by circling your response,and then drop this in the comment box. Thank you!1. Do we need more parks in downtown Los Angeles?YesNo2. Have you ever heard of a park over a freeway? YesNo3. Did you enjoy the mobile mini-park? Yes No4. How do you use parks? (Circle all that apply)A. To play D. Events / ConcertsB. LeisureE. Other: ____________C. FamilyAdditional comments or concerns?Traditional MediaDespite all the hype about technology and the doomsday reports about the end of traditionalnews, the fact remains that a significant percentage of residents continue to read thenewspaper and watch the TV news. Traditional media is an important way to reach the entirecircle, from immediate neighbors to the entire Los Angeles metropolitan region. It is also anespecially good way to reach older residents who are not as reliant on the Internet for theirnews. Local traditional media outlets in the downtown area can also get the message to non-English speakers through foreign-language newspapers and radio, including Spanish-languageLa Opinin, Chinese Sing Tao Daily and The Rafu Shimpo (a Japanese-English languagenewspaper based in Little Tokyo).Media Kits: Preparing media kits is an essential step. By providing a folder that containssummarized information about the Dream Green movement and the proposed Park 101 project,the reporter or editor will have a condensed and authoritative source of information to help themwork under deadline. Our media kit will include scientific and social information about parks andthe lack of park space in Los Angeles, and potential effects of that lack of green space onchildren and residents. Remember, we are sharing information about parks and providing Park101 as a potential alternative, not advocating for a certain project.We recommend the following traditional media strategies and outline elements of each. 29 33. Table 6: Traditional Media StrategiesMedia TypeCircle/Level Target AudienceBenefits CostsL.A. Times Insert1,2,3Older residents, Seen as legitimate Higher price professionals Feature Story,1,2,3Older residents, Human-interest, lowTime spentNewspaperprofessionals, youngercost convincingreaders (online)reporter towrite storyRadio: NPR and 1,2,3 Drivers, older residents, Wide audience, can Less controlTalk Radio liberals and conservativescall in to comment, over content orlow costopinionsLocal Downtown1,2Younger loft-dwellers, Non- Reach speakers of None Newspapers, English-speakingforeign languages,Non-English downtown residentslower costpapersNewspaper1,2,3Older residents,Low cost Writer may be Editorial professionals seen as biasedPublic Service 1,2,3 Older residents, televisionFree or low cost Limited numberAnnouncement watchersof viewers TV News 1,2,3 Older residents, television Visual, focused onDeclining watchers local issues number ofviewersNew MediaThe term new media refers to social networking sites like Facebook, interactive websites andblogs, and new ways to reach wide audiences using telecommunication technologies almostinstantly using Twitter. With these new tools you can reach a younger target group withstimulating, engaging, and powerfully visual messages. You can keep an ongoing, visualrecording of the public participation program and stakeholders can easily and publicly become apart of the ongoing conversation with Facebook and the interactive Dream Green blog. Apowerful tool for peer marketing, social media allows you to reach an even broader audienceand engage people in the 20 percent group that rarely or never participatesthey may notcome to a meeting, but they will check out a link on their friends Facebook page. By gainingfollowers and sharing formation about parks and the environment, we will reach not only thethree circles of the public in the earlier diagram, but can potentially gather support and inputfrom interested people around the globe!We have created a preliminary Facebook page to build upon, which can be found by searchingDream Green LA on Facebook. We also created a Twitter account, which is linked to theFacebook page so that every time we post something on Facebook, a tweet is sent to all ourfollowers. Table 7 is an outline of each of the new media strategies. 30 34. Table 7: New Media StrategiesMedia Type CircleTargetBenefits Costs /Level Audiencewww.Facebook.com 1,2,3, Younger Convenient to Facebook friendshttp://www.facebook.com/#4populationsweb users tofrom around the/pages/Los-Angeles- around the voice their globe will not be aCA/DREAM- globeopinion direct stakeholderGREEN/182161587975 People who People will bein the planningare pro-able to view webprocessenvironment albums of the Park 101s public participation initiatives www.twitter.com 1,2,3, Younger Convenient to Twitter followershttp://twitter.com/DREAM 4populationsweb users.from around theGREEN101around the Easy to post world will not beglobeinformation todirectly impacted People who the public aboutby Park 101are pro-eventsplanning processenvironment www.blogger.com 1,2,3, Younger Convenient for Bloggers fromhttp://dreamgreen101.blog4populationsweb users.around the worldspot.comaround the Reaches to thewill not be directlyglobe20% that mayimpacted by Park People who not want to 101 planningare pro-participate but processenvironmentwould rather Academics/ read informationscholars and updates about Park 10131 35. INREACHInreach refers to those strategies designed to bring people to the event. Inreachstrategies described in this section include: advisory group, workshops, charrettes, andopen house.Advisory GroupAn advisory group is generally defined as a small group of people representing variousinterests, points of view, or fields of expertise that is set up to advise an organization onits programs or proposed actions (Creighton, p. 103). We propose creating an advisorygroup that represents the interests of the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed park.This group of individuals will be comprised of community leaders who are activemembers in neighborhood events.We will work with the field deputies ofcouncilmembers Ed Reyes, Jan Perry, and Jose Huizr to identify these keystakeholders. These stakeholders will make recommendations on a design brief that willbe presented in workshops and a charrette. The design brief for a charrette is the set ofinstructions given to the design team. It details numerical requirements andperformance targets for the site (Condon, 2008, p. 35).WorkshopsWorkshops are highly interactive meetings. They are particularly useful when dealingwith complex issues because they provide time for detailed consideration and a highlevel of interaction (Creighton, p. 134). We propose holding a total of three workshops atthree different locations around the parameter of the proposed park. Each event will lastapproximately three hours in length. The first workshop will be held on a Thursday nightfrom 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The second workshop will be held on a Friday night the followingweek. And the third workshop event will be held one week on the following Saturday inthe morning. These open workshops will invite all members of the community toparticipate in James Rojas City Building Participatory interactive model. (Mr. Rojas is alocal artist, community advocate, and Metro planner. For the past few years, he hasbeen touring the region and beyond, bringing along an interactive model, and asking thepublic to invent a vision for their communities.) Staff will be bilingual in English andSpanish, and in English and Chinese. Fliers will also be available in English, Spanish,and Chinese.Workshop Program:Staff will provide: Light refreshments Colored name tagsIntroduction: Participants will be greeted with light refreshments as they are given a colored name tag to write their name on. 32 36. Participants will be seated in tables seating groups of six to eight people. A presentation about the demographics, history, and overview of total parks andopen space in the city of Los Angeles.Break-out Session: Groups will be asked to break out in tables according to the color of their name tag (see Figure 19). Each place setting will have a 12 x 12 blank white styrofoam board. The facilitator of the workshop will ask: If you had to create an open space in your neighborhood, how would you design it? Groups will then be presented with found materials located on a central table that they can use to construct their ideas physically on the styrofoam board. The exercise should last 30 minutes. The facilitator (F in Figure 19) will then ask each individual participant to speak about their work and what they envisioned in their open space design. Designated trained staff will document each individuals presentation through photography and a video camera.Wrap-up: Session ends with the opportunity to get more refreshments and ask anyquestions. Questions will be recorded on large white blank sheets of paper that are mountedon presentation easels. Refreshments will be served until the final participants leave the presentationroom. Staff will hand out tote bags to participants as they leave.Figure 19: Workshop Seating Diagram 33 37. CharretteA charrette is a time-limited, multiparty design event organized to generate acollaboratively produced plan for a sustainable community (Condon, p. 1). We proposeholding a charrette at the Conference Center of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels. Itwill convene over four consecutive days starting on a Wednesday and culminating in afinal event on Saturday night. Staff will be bilingual in English and Spanish, and inEnglish and Chinese. Fliers will also be available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.Each charrette participant will receive his/her own personal binder at the start of thecharrette. Each binder will have a legal consent form that informs participants that theirnotes will be the property of EDAW|AECOM. The binder will have five divided tabs thatwill be organized according to the following: Tab 1 will have the introduction/background information about Park 101 followedby personal bios of all charrette participants. Tab 2 will have the itinerary of Day 1 of the charrette followed by blank sheets ofpaper for notes. Tab 3 will have the itinerary of Day 2 of the charrette followed by blank sheets ofpaper for notes. Tab 4 will have the itinerary of Day 3 of the charrette followed by blank sheets ofpaper for notes. Tab 5 will have the surveys for participants to complete at the end of each day.The participants will not be able to see the itinerary for days 2 or 3 in their binders untilthe start of each new day. The binders will be collected at the end of each day; staff willphotocopy notes that were taken by participants and a new itinerary will be printed andinserted for the next day. The purpose of inserting an agenda into the binder is to keepparticipants engaged and excited about each new day. Participants will be encouragedto take notes throughout the charrette to make the best use of their binders. The bindersserve as a written document for each participant, as their notes will show indicators ofprogress/compromise/insight that occurred throughout their experience. Once thecharrette is completed on Day 4, charrette participants will be able to take their bindershome.Our proposed charrette schedule is presented below.Day 1: TALKOpening Event:This kick-off event will include members from the pre-charrette workshop stakeholders,as well as community members who were not able to attend the previous events. Thefirst half of this event participants will be served a light breakfast consisting of coffee,juice, bagels, and fruit. The attendees will be seated according to a choreographedchart, located at the reception table. Staff will utilize this introductory phase with apresentation about Park 101, regarding design, demographics, history, orientation, andthe context for which the idea of this project saw fruition. Principles, goals, andobjectives about Park 101 will be identified with clarity during this presentation. 34 38. A second presentation will be given by EDAW, Caltrans, Metro, SCAG, and therepresentatives from the Mayors office and major groups in the greater Los Angelesregion, invested in this project.Field Trip: Participants will be led outside to the corner of Grand Avenue and Temple Streetas staff and members of EDAW lead a walking tour of the site of the proposedpark. Figure 20 identifies the proposed route of the tour. This phase should last about two hours. The participants will then return to the central courtyard in the Cathedral of OurLady of the Angels.Figure 20: Walking Tour RouteLunch:Lunch will be served as participants are seated in five round tables, each seating five.Group facilitators will be assigned to dine with each table to help foster a conversationabout thoughts and reflections of the fieldtrip. Seating will be engineered to foster awell-rounded conversation, encompassing multiple perspectives. Lunch will be cateredby Full House Seafood Restaurant.First Break-Out Session:Participants will be invited back into conference room for the first break-out session. Participants will be encouraged to go to the table of their choice; stations will beorganized by general topics. Facilitators will discuss local and distant successful precedents of cap parkprojects across the country. Examples include Seattles Freeway Park andChicagos Millennium Park. Facilitators will also introduce a large blank map to each group. Conversations inthis phase identify non-negotiable areas in the map. Not a lot of drawing will takeplace at this time.35 39. Facilitators will identify the general topics and values that are important within thecommunity on the large maps provided.Break-out session one ends and groups return to original tables. Cookies, juice, cheese, crackers, and water will be available.Final Re-cap: Technical focuses from the design brief will be re-iterated. Questions and comments from all of the tables will be welcomed and recorded on large white blank paper pads, displayed on presentation easels. Facilitated conversations reflect an overall summation of the events throughout the day.Day Two: DOODLEOpening Session and Breakfast:Participants are welcomed to sit in the large table and are also served breakfast. Thefirst half of this event participants will be served a light breakfast consisting of coffee,juice, bagels, and fruit. The attendees will be seated according to a choreographedchart, located at the reception table. Facilitators will welcome new revelations and thoughts from the previous day.Second Break-Out Session:Stations will now be organized according to different areas of the site. Participants willbe encouraged to think about technical issues within specific areas of the proposed Park101 as they will select a table that will be organized by geographic location. Tables will be tailored so that one person from each issue-based table from the first break-out session will be at each of the site specific-based table in this break-out session. Facilitators will now be specifically skilled designers. Conversations will be directed toward blank maps and sketching by pencil ensues.Lunch:A buffet will be served outside at the courtyard of the Cathedral overlooking the 101freeway. Lunch will be catered by Casa Golondrina Mexican Caf. Stakeholders will then be dismissed for the day. Designers will continue to draw until after hours.Day Three: DRAWOpening Session and Breakfast: Participants will be welcomed to sit in the large table and will also be servedbreakfast. Facilitators will welcome new revelations and thoughts about theprevious day. 36 40. Midcourse Correction:Sketches and diagrams will be displayed on easels for peer review. Pre-charrette workshop participants, private sector leaders, and public officialswill be invited to review and make suggestions. Facilitators will then ask the charrette groups if they are comfortable to moveforward and are pleased with the results.Third Break-Out Session:Participants and facilitators will then be broken up into the previous break-out sessionsof the day before, they will be able to work from the designs and suggestions that nowserve as more concrete proposals of the dialogue. The large blank map will now be utilized and permanent markers will be used toidentify permanent boundaries. Key locations will be identified with clarity at this phase. Designers will refer to the products of the design brief that was presented on dayone. Drawing will become the main activity as designers listen and interpret groupsuggestions onto the map.Lunch:A buffet will be served outside at the Viewing Foyer of the Cathedral overlooking the 101freeway. Lunch will be catered by Philippes The Original.Third Break-Out Session Continued:Participants will be invited to continue working on their break out session tables.Final Hour Project:Participants will then be tasked with helping to devise a plan to format the finalpresentation. Cookies, juice, cheese, crackers, and water will be offered. They will be given templates to form questions and responses. Three PowerPoint templates will also be offered to assist group members toformat their presentations. Students and aides will also be present for this last half of the session to assistwith technological formatting. PowerPoint presentations will be produced before participants leave.End of Interactive sessions.Day FourFinal Presentation:The closing event will be held at the Kyoto Grand Hotel rooftop garden in Little Tokyo. Presentation event will be held the following Saturday evening. 37 41. Open HouseAn open house is an event to which the public is invited (Creighton, p. 123). There willbe four open house events held within the next month to present the outcome of thecharrette, along with other features that were introduced in the initial presentation. Thefirst workshop will be presented two weeks from the last day of the charrette. Theseevents will be held to present the current status of the project through theimplementation of strategies designed to involve the community through manyparticipatory models. Staff present will be bilingual in English and Spanish, and inEnglish and Chinese. Fliers will also be available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Cookies, juice, cheese, crackers, and water will be offered. The event will be held in a publicly accessible room in three venues located nearthe site. There will presentation boards lining the room. These boards will be organizedaccording to specific events that were held during the Outreach and Inreachprocess. One facilitator from each event (the Advisory Group meeting, aworkshop, the charrette, the public official briefings, neighborhood councilbriefings, and the Park Cycle events) will be present to answer verbal questionsand record comments on large white blank sheets that will be located near eachfacilitators station. There will also be six comment boxes located in front of each station.Facilitators will provide paper and encourage participants to provide writtenfeedback (such as questions and comments) and to deposit these slips of paperinto the boxes.Venues for the open house are: Little Tokyo Branch Library(203 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012) Central Los Angeles Area High School #9 for the Visual and Performing Arts(450 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012) Pico House(430 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012) 38 42. RESULTSIn his book, The Public Participation Handbook: Making Better Decisions Through CitizenInvolvement, James L. Creighton (2005) said there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all to [sic]public participation (p. 2). To the extent that this is true, there can be no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to public participation planning.Our firm established a rather ambitious objective designed to maximize legitimacy, credibility,and public participation. Our firm believes strongly that the objective of our Park 101 publicparticipation program - upon full implementation of the strategies contained herein - will beachieved.The design/presentation methodology followed six simple steps: Introduction/Context,Demographics and Stakeholder Identification, Branding/Marketing, Outreach Strategies, InreachStrategies, and Results. Each of these steps is described below in further detail.The Introduction/Context served as the first step and foundation of our public participationprogram. The other five steps built upon the information provided in the Introduction/Context.The Introduction stated the purpose and scope of our public participation program, anddescribed the proposed Park 101. The Context section detailed the existing conditions andissues related to the proposed project and its location.We believe that properly identifying the target audience enhances the legitimacy, credibility, andintegrity of the public participation process. Consequently, a thorough demographic/stakeholderanalysis was performed with one simple goal: everyone who wants to participate will be affordedthe opportunity to do so.We concluded early in the programs development stage that the program objectives couldbecome more meaningful if the project accepted a unique brand. Such a brand, it was believed,would assist program sponsors raise awareness to the proposed Park 101 project. As a result,an aggressive branding strategy has been incorporated into the program to provide a sense ofexcitement to the process.The firm is of the belief that there is a significant distinction between outreach and inreach.Outreach represents the most fundamental of the public participation strategies. It is alsoconducted at the earliest stages of the program. Outreach refers to efforts that take informationto the people. Examples may include flyers, newsletters, and similar instruments.But what if the public is now motivated to take their level of participation to the next step?Inreach refers to those strategies designed to bring people to the event. Examples includehearings, meetings, and similar gatherings. 39 43. Now that the group has described how the public participation program was constructed, isthere a way(s) to determine conclusively if the process - upon full implementation of thestrategies contained herein resulted in successful outcomes? Our firm believes there are fourspecific ways to measure success.The first way the firm can measure success of their public participation program is by measuringthe extent to which the need for outreach decreases and the need to accommodate inreachincreases.Outreach is without question a very time intensive, labor intensive activity. It is, however,unquestionably a fundamental step during the initial stage(s) of any successful publicparticipation process. During this stage, significant outreach is necessary because awarenessof the issue is usually low. As a result, attendance at forums or other public meetings is equallylow.As outreach strategies achieve incremental successes, the public invariably becomes morecomfortable with both the issue and the process. As a result, outreach activities may be tailored(and scaled back, but never eliminated) to suit this emerging phenomena. In its place, inreachstrategies become more prevalent for three fundamental reasons: 1) greater awareness to theissue and greater comfort with the process; 2) cultural barriers are shattered, leaving the publicmore inclined to participate; and, 3) it becomes easier to generate greater attendance. As aresult, outreach strategies may become less frequent and less time/labor intensive, and arereplaced by higher awareness/higher attendance inreach events. This is illustrated below inFigure 21.Figure 21: Changes in Outreach and Inreach 40 44. Just who, then, are these participants? For convenience, they can be divided into four distinctcategories as shown in Figure 22. (Representation in each of the four categories is NOTequally divided.)Figure 22: Four Categories of ParticipantsThe first of the four groups is the low awareness/low attendance group. When this group, forwhatever reason, appears to be the predominant group, serious consideration should be givento significant course corrections in the overall public participation process. To retain the statusquo will only jeopardize the legitimacy and credibility of the entire process.The second group is the low awareness/high attendance group. This group is characterized bymembership which represents the 10 percent (Perez, personal communication, September 2,2009). This group is most commonly identified as individuals who are known for attendingmeetings of this type without consideration for the event involved. Little effort is needed toattract (and/or retain) the attention of this group.The third of the four groups is high awareness/low attendance group. This