By Carlos Aviles | Excélsior
For years, Hazard Park was a park in name only. Although it appeared as a public space on maps, for residents of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, it was a place to be entered with fear.
Fausto Guerra, a young resident of the area, describes it this way, having witnessed the park’s transformation from gang territory to an oasis for young people like him, children, and families.
“This park is my refuge; this place to skate keeps me focused on what I want and away from bad company,” he asserts while showcasing his talent on his skateboard. He adds, “This park now gives a sense of community to those who live nearby”.
However, this small green area, located just north of the 10 Freeway, on Soto Street, was not always a place for young people like Fausto. A few years ago, the courts were deteriorated, and the playgrounds were rusted and covered in graffiti. But the most serious issue wasn’t the physical state, but what was happening there: the park was a meeting point for gangs, a place where drugs were sold, conflicts were resolved with violence, and territory was marked with intimidation.
Children didn’t play there. Parents avoided walking nearby. It was a public space, a long shadow linked to a name whispered in the streets: “Big Hazard”.
The gang, formed shortly after the 1940s and 1950s, took its name from the park and became rooted in Ramona Gardens, a public housing project just a couple of blocks away, evolving into a feared organization. By the 1980s, Big Hazard was not just a name; it was a presence.
“They painted the walls, watched the corners, and, in many ways, controlled what happened in the community,” outlines Julio Ortiz, a community resident whose two children participate in recreational programs offered by the Hazard Recreation Center.
“The community has slowly been taking control of the park. We are giving it back not only to our children, who are already grown, but also to our grandchildren,” he said while watching his 16-year-old son play baseball at the park1.
Baseball is just one of dozens of extracurricular programs that Hazard Park offers to the community. Basketball, tennis, frisbee, softball, indoor soccer, skating, skateboarding, kickball, volleyball, fitness, dance, athletics, pickleball, and flag football are just some of the others.
“The idea is to keep them busy, away from bad influences,” Ortiz continued. “A child occupied with sports doesn’t get into trouble”.
“What does the park mean to me?” he comments, repeating the question from this media outlet. “The salvation of my children, my neighbors’ children, the community,” he adds.
A Dark Era
Residents of Boyle Heights, especially those living in or around Ramona Gardens, knew that violence was not constant, but always possible.
Big Hazard, like many gangs in Los Angeles, had ties to larger prison networks, particularly the Mexican Mafia, according to documented court cases. This connection provided them with power, but also surveillance. Federal agents took notice. In the 1990s and 2000s, task forces raided homes, filed indictments, and attempted to dismantle the gang’s hierarchy.
In 2014, several apartments in Ramona Gardens were attacked with Molotov cocktails, an incident that attracted the attention of federal and local authorities due to its violent nature and the profile of the affected residents, who were African-American families.
A Resilient Community
But the story of Hazard Park is not just about crime. It’s about resilience, some residents proudly state. Amidst the difficulties, community groups organized peace marches, youth programs, and art projects throughout the years. They replaced graffiti with murals of culture and resistance.
In January 2015, the University of Southern California (USC) donated one million dollars to the Hazard Recreation Center. The donation was allocated to a series of park improvements, including the installation of an outdoor gym circuit, upgrades to the tennis and basketball courts, the construction of a playground for young children, the renovation of the restrooms, and the creation of paved walking trails. Additionally, $1,000,000 was allocated for youth sports programs and another $100,000 to mitigate traffic resulting from the expansion of the USC campus.
Local organizations like Legacy LA, based in Boyle Heights, have also contributed to the Ramona Gardens Projects. Founded in 2007, Legacy LA emerged with the mission of helping young people break cycles of violence by offering health campaign programs, social and environmental justice initiatives, leadership programs, and academic support.
In 2021, Legacy LA implemented a Mental Health Program to provide therapy and emotional support, recognizing the impact of trauma and stress on young residents. By 2022, they reactivated their “Through Our Eyes” initiative, a series of youth-led forums designed to improve communication and reduce tensions between the police and the community.
Better Times
Today, Big Hazard still exists, but its influence is no longer the same. The shadow it cast is fading; not being erased but confronted by a community that refuses to be defined by fear.
“I think it’s only really late at night that it doesn’t look safe anymore, but now everything is much better,” assures Mr. Antonio Ibarra. “But it’s best to come during program hours; for my grandchildren, that’s the best thing there can be”.
Gangs no longer control the park. Instead, there are skating shows, children’s soccer leagues, mixed volleyball teams, and softball, among others. The park is filled with laughter, community events, and hope. Where fear once reigned, dreams now flourish.
Hazard Park never ceased to be a park. But today, it has transformed into a place for everyone. A refuge for children, a meeting point for the community, and living proof that no space is lost when there is a will to change.
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.
