SBS International
LOS ANGELES — The winds of change are blowing in Koreatown, one of the urban areas with the least green space among major cities the U.S.
In anticipation of the 2028 LA Olympics in LA, the city government is working to secure new land and expand existing parks.
Plans to expand Seoul International Park are in full swing with the construction of Pio Pico Park, which broke ground in 2024. The site of Pio Pico Park began construction in August last year.
The foundation work is currently underway, and if all goes well, the project is expected to be completed in 2026.
Ahead of the completion, SBS International spoke with city staff about this and other plans to expand green space in LA. Below is an English transcription of the Korean broadcast.
Heather Hutt, LA 10th District councilmember: “When the Pio Pico Library Park is completed, residents will be able to check out books, sit on benches, and enjoy the sunshine and greenery. I started the feasibility study because I saw the need for a park in my community.”
Paul Jeon, SBS reporter: “Councilmember Heather Hutt, whose district includes Koreatown, is also pushing for the expansion of Seoul International Park. The plan is to close off the road between Seoul International Park and the Korean American Senior Center to greatly expand the park.”
Hutt: “The need to expand Seoul International Park came up during an environmental study of the area, so the City Council and the Parks Department worked together to come up with the idea of closing off the road expanding the park.”
Jeon: “Koreatown is a rapidly growing neighborhood that lacks public green space. High real estate prices have made it difficult to find a solution. But with the upcoming Olympics, LA is looking for more green space, and a survey of the site has begun.”
Steve Kang, LA Department of Public Works commissioner: “The city of Los Angeles is gearing up for the 2028 Olympics, so the city has begun to look for green space in Korean-American neighborhoods and near venues. A variety of spaces are being considered, including the existing Pio Pico Library parking lot as a pocket park.”
Jeon: “The LA Department of Recreation and Parks is also working with school districts to convert concrete school grounds into green spaces.”
Jimmy Kim LA Department of Recreation and Parks general manager: “The Department of Recreation and Parks had a pilot program called Community School Parks at Kohanga Elementary School before the pandemic to create green space. We’re looking to bring it back.”
Jeon: “The lack of green space in LA’s Korean Town has long been a problem. With the Olympics coming up, there is a growing call for the community to actively participate. I’m Paul Jeon, SBS from Los Angeles.”
This story was produced by Ethnic Media Services in collaboration with the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS) at UCLA as part of the Greening American Cities initiative supported by the Bezos Earth Fund. Read more stories like this by visiting the Greening Communities homepage.
