By Swe Swe Aye | Myanmar Gazette
When the Los Angeles Burmese community sought a larger venue for their annual New Year festival “Thingyan,” capable of accommodating their expanding population, Barnes Park emerged as the clear choice.
“It’s a place Burmese people know,” explained Ko Kai, an organizer for the annual event. “The food, the entertainment, and the parking are all great,” he added, describing past events here as “more than we expected.”
For Dr. Phillip Kaw, founder and president of the Southern California Burmese Association, Barnes Park holds a special significance. “Barnes Park is the birthplace of the Burmese community in Los Angeles,” said, Kaw, who has resided in Monterey Park since 1985.
Established in 2006, the Southern California Burmese Association, the largest organization representing the SoCal Burmese community, hosted its inaugural event, the Burmese New Year Thingyan, at Barnes Park in 2007.
This gathering drew over a thousand attendees and marked the beginning of a key tradition. The association continued to hold its Burmese New Year Thingyan at Barnes Park during the second week of April in 2007, 2008, and 2009. These events also served as a critical point of connection, fostering the relationship between the Burmese community and U.S. elected officials, many of whom attended the celebrations at Barnes Park.
It was at the 2007 Thingyan Festival that the Network of Myanmar American Association (NMMA), a new cultural organization, began to make its presence known within the Myanmar community.
“The two founders, Ko Aung Min Naing and I, set up a booth at Barnes Park during the 2007 Thingyan Festival and distributed flyers,” recalled Ko Thakin Bwor, co-founder of the NMMA. “Barnes Park was an unforgettable place in the beginning of the Network of Myanmar American Association because we were able to tell people about the association.”
Los Angeles’s San Gabriel Valley has long been a hub for the Burmese immigrant community, particularly in cities like Monterey Park. This concentration began with initial waves of Burmese immigrants arriving in 1962, followed by significant movements in 1988, 2007, and 2021, as many sought new beginnings in the United States.
Monterey Park, known for its vibrant Asian-owned businesses and a strong Burmese presence, boasts 14 public parks, setting the stage for a longstanding and mutually beneficial partnership between the community and local recreation initiatives.
More Than a Park
The Burmese Chinese community, which saw its beginnings in the early 1980s with immigration from Burma, also found a central gathering place in Barnes Park. “The Southern California Nan Yang Alumni Association, which was founded in 1995 among Burmese Chinese, started in Barnes Park,” noted Dr. Kaw, one of the association’s founders.
The influx of Burmese Chinese to the U.S. largely stemmed from the nationalization of private enterprises in Burma in 1962 under the socialist government, leading to waves of emigration throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
York Chwa, a Monterey Park resident who immigrated in 2000, vividly recalls the importance of these gatherings: “We had friends from our childhood in Burma who went to elementary school at Nan Yang School and formed an association to meet up when they came to the U.S.
We lived far away from each other, but we would meet up at the association’s annual dinner.” He added, “In 2003, we held the association dinner in Barnes Park, and we were very happy and it was unforgettable to meet up with friends we thought we would never see again.”
Barnes Park offers more than just outdoor recreation; it also provides dedicated indoor facilities.
“The great thing about Barnes Park is that they also rent out a separate building for indoor activities,” noted Lilian Shar, a Monterey Park resident in her 70s.
These indoor spaces are particularly valuable for community gatherings. “We have our Southern California Nan Yang Alumni Association dinners in the hall,” Shar explained, adding, “Because it’s in the hall, we can have bands, karaoke, and sing songs.”
A Safe Haven for Seniors
Beyond organized club activities, Barnes Park serves as a vital space for senior citizens to maintain their health and social connections.
“Our senior citizens get up early in the morning and walk around here. We exercise,” explained York Chwa. “Our senior citizens meet up with their friends and do sports in this park, so they don’t have to stay at home and meet up and talk.”
Its central location in Monterey Park has proven particularly beneficial, even allowing seniors to exercise and socialize in the park during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The park’s safety is another significant advantage, as highlighted by Chwa. “I like the fact that the park is very safe. In the evening, young people play tennis and basketball,” he noted. “At 9 or 10 p.m., there is a police station nearby, so crime is low. This park is safe for senior citizens. It’s also close to Monterey Park City Hall. The police station is very close to the park.”
This proximity to law enforcement contributes to a secure environment, making Barnes Park a reassuring place for seniors and other community members.
Fostering Health and Harmony Through Inter-Cultural Exchange
Barnes Park isn’t just a gathering place for the Burmese community; it’s also a vibrant hub for cross-cultural connection. “When people come to Barnes Park, they not only meet Burmese friends, but also people from other ethnic groups. We also get to see what sports they do,” remarked Lilian Shar, highlighting the park’s role in fostering inter-communal exchange.
This exposure has even led to new initiatives within the Burmese community. “When we came to the park and saw other ethnic groups doing Tai Chi, we got the first idea for our senior citizens to do Tai Chi for their health,” explained York Chwa. “We met the teacher who taught us Tai Chi at the park 15 years ago, and our organization asked her to teach senior citizens.”
This anecdote underscores how the park facilitates the sharing of cultural practices and promotes well-being across diverse groups.
Barnes Park as an Unofficial Community Center
According to AAPI data derived from the 2020 American Community Survey, 31.1% of California’s Burmese population resides in Los Angeles County. Furthermore, the Pew Research Center’s 2019 data identifies Los Angeles as the seventh most densely populated metropolitan area for Burmese individuals, with an estimated population of 6,000.
Despite this substantial presence and the existence of numerous Burmese religious monasteries and Christian schools across Southern California, a dedicated Burmese community center remains elusive. Consequently, community activities are heavily reliant on the use of both private and public spaces.
A new generation of Burmese dancers, five high school students who travel across Southern California and beyond to perform traditional Burmese dances, find their regular practice space at Barnes Park every weekend during the summer before the Thingyan festival is celebrated.
“For our young dancers, who are schoolgirls and teenagers, the nearby police station offers peace of mind, minimizing concerns about criminal activity during evening practice sessions. There is a fire department nearby,” explained Khin Yu, the mother of one of the dancers. “We chose Barnes Park because the location, cleanliness, and maintenance of the park are very good.” The park’s well-maintained facilities and proximity to emergency services offer a secure and convenient environment for these young artists to hone their skills.
For 11th grader KaiTamsin Bwor, Barnes Park is integral to preserving Burmese culture and managing the expenses associated with their dance troupe.
“When we go to the San Francisco Bay Area to dance for Myanmar Thingyan, we have to pay for travel, hotel, and clothing, and there is no Myanmar Community Center in Southern California,” Bwor explained. “We gather at Barnes Park and dance, so the cost of the room is free. The picnic area has tables and chairs, and we bring our own food, so we can eat at a lower cost. Barnes Park helps us in every way to preserve our Burmese culture.”
Beyond the practical benefits, Bwor also highlighted the park’s role in fostering cultural exchange. While dancing in April 2024, she observed the Taiwanese festival taking place concurrently.
“When we danced at Barnes Park, we not only learned about other Asian festivals, but in the evening, Latino people came to sell cakes and toys, so we learned about the multiculturalism of Monterey Park,” Bwor added, underscoring the park’s vibrant and diverse atmosphere.
In essence, Barnes Park serves as an indispensable anchor for the Burmese community in Los Angeles, particularly in the absence of a dedicated community center. Its versatile spaces and accessible location address a fundamental need for cultural preservation, social connection, and recreational activities.
For many, this park is much more than just a public space; it’s a vital spot that’s now a part of who they are and their cherished memories. “. “Barnes Park fulfills some of the needs of our Burmese minority who do not have a community center. This park will always be in my memory from my childhood,” Bwor added.
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.
