Augustin Durán | Hispanic LA
BELL GARDENS, CALIFORNIA — At John Anson Ford Park, the day is radiant.
A mother yells at her nine-year-old son, who is playing football with his friends, to score a goal. Beyond that, a group of men accompany their children or their grandchildren to slides and other children’s games. A boy has fallen asleep on the lawn. Other young people ride their bike along the park’s trails. Those who walk with their dogs greet older people who solve crossword puzzles. Some argue about politics, immigration, football.
Here in this Bell Gardens city park, about 11 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles, locals live together, enjoy life and rest. The park covers 12.5 acres, the equivalent of nine football fields.
The name of the park refers to John Anson Ford, who lived a century old (1883-1983) and worked as a journalist and politician of the Democratic Party. Born in Illinois, he fell in love with the region and became a Los Angeles County supervisor for 25 years from 1934 to 1958. That same year, this park was named after him.
Three years later, Bell Gardens was recognized as a city, one of the 88 of those currently in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles Almanac website reports that in 1961, Bell Gardens had 26,467 inhabitants. Today, the residents are almost 45,000. 93% are Latino, of whom 43% are immigrants.
Immigrants, their children and grandchildren are an integral part of the bicultural demographic that gives life to the park with its presence.
On Sunday, April 6, Marcos — a 54-year-old immigrant from Jalisco, Mexico — visited the park with his children and grandchildren. His family, he said, had lived in the city for the past 20 years, and in each of those years, they’ve enjoyed the park.
William, 30, walked with his friend Patricia and his dog, Beans.
He said he grew up playing in the park with his friends, celebrating birthdays with their families. He has decided to stay and live in Bell Gardens because here is his childhood, the memories he continues to build, as he continues to return to the park up to three times a week.
Patricia, his friend, lives in La Habra, but enjoys this park, near where she grew up. Every week she comes to visit her mother, who still lives here. She says she likes how there aer always different activities — whether you walk, run, cycle, play baseball, play soccer or swim, the park has something for everyone.
The same is true for an 85-year-old immigrant from Durango, to whom the park gives rest and good health. Day after day, he comes here to walk. Then he sits down to fill his crossword puzzles. It’s pure tranquillity, he says, as squirrels approach him in search of food.
Thanks to the football tradition of the Latino community, in 2006, Bell Gardens turned a part of Ford Park into a sports complex with three soccer fields with synthetic grass and two additional fields with natural grass. They also added a baseball field and a softball field.
Every week, the sports events are attended by hundreds of residents from various parts of Southern California, and sometimes even the fans of foreign teams participating in a tournament.
Marco Bárcena, a Bell Gardens councilman and a resident of the city for over 30 years, said Ford Park has been critical for many immigrant and second-generation families who have grown up in the city practicing some sport or physical activity.
It’s one of the nicest parks in southeastern Los Angeles, said the councilman, who worked here for almost 20 years.
Alongside the Bell Gardens Sports Center, this October, the park’s Aquatic Center will be inaugurated, featuring a new Olympic pool.
Bárcena added that there will also be added opportunities for swimming, water-polo classes, recreation programs, classes, aerobics and much more. The goal, he said, is to have more sports and entertainment options for Bell Gardens residents and neighboring cities.
Every day, five workers maintain the park. One of them said that 80% of visitors are Latino. Here, he continued, families can quietly enjoy their activities. Workers keep the park clean and will help however they can.
Servando, 44, said he travelled 110 miles from the town of Victorville to take his 14-year-old daughter Bella to play with her soccer team SoCal Elite. He knows many parks and sports complexes in Southern California, he said, but none of them are like this.
The courts are very professional, explained the father as he tried not to lose sight of his daughter’s party, adding that the area was one of the best soccer parks in Southern California.
Another park-goer, Jesus, came to play in the park for many years, later took his son to play and now brings his grandson.
Jesus, now 74 years old, lives in neighbouring Huntington Park. Coming Sundays with his family is still a family tradition.
This park brings him good memories, he explained, adding that snce the 1980s, he’s built his life here.
From a park rostrum, a woman encouraged her 15-year-old son in English. This is Birgitte, who travelled 123 miles from Palm Desert to watch her son play.
Birgitte explained how happy coming to the park with her son made her, as soon he will grow up and have these memories of playing soccer here.
An immigrant from Santa Ana, who asked to be identified by the letter K, encouraged his son during the soccer game: “Go, go, fast, shoot, shoot, you push him too.” Suddenly, his screams in English were replaced by Arabic. He apologized for his enthusiasm, adding how much he enjoys coming to the park to watch these games.
Like many of those present this Sunday, he often goes to at Ford Park to train with his children, support a team or simply enjoy himself.
All of these park-goers are just a small part of the many thousands of residents of Bell Gardens and Southern California who make up this colorful mosaic that bring the park to life with its presence.
And there’s no shortage of street vendors who travel to feed theem.
At one table sheltered by the shade of large trees, 86-year-old Molca, 75-year-old Antonio, 58-year-old Reuben and 61-year-old Luis gathered to talk.
They explained: Every day, four or five vendors come, sometimes up to eight or nine, always talking and enjoying life, that’s why everyone keeps coming here.
This story omits the surname of interviewees.
This story was produced by American Community Media 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.
