Magic Johnson Park In LA County Partially Open
The Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park renovation project that pioneered a model for green spaces through sustainable water designs is now open to the public
Los Angeles, Calif.—The recent renovation of Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, which offers a model for designing innovative water sustainability approaches that connect residents with nature, is now open for the public to enjoy.
AHBE, which recently joined the multi-disciplinary design and planning firm MIG, was the prime design consultant through Los Angeles County Development Authority, and Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation, overseeing enhancements to what is the largest park in South Los Angeles.
The 126-acre park, which is located in the community of Willowbrook, was named for the Lakers legend in 1994, three years after he first retired as an NBA player, and renovation efforts were championed by Mark Ridley-Thomas during his time serving as County Supervisor. This initial phase of the park’s renovation was designed by AHBE Landscape Architects, which joined the Berkeley-based MIG in 2019 to become AHBE | MIG.
The firm collaborated with 20+ sub-consultants on the project, which features a new community event center and offers a new nature-infused environment of scenic viewpoints, community social spaces, play areas, California native coastal sage scrub, and freshwater marsh wetland landscape.
“The inspiration behind this project has been to transform a widely-used community-based park into something much more: an interactive and dynamic center of learning, nature, and engagement that is powered through environmentally sustainable design,” said Gary Lai, AHBE | MIG Principal, and Director of Regenerative Design. “We believe that the enhancements for Phase 1-A of the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park ensure its standing as a world-class urban park for the community while also serving as a model for sustainability and conservation for the County of Los Angeles. We thank our partners and the wider community for the opportunity to create a new and exciting space for residents and families.”
Of particular note is a system to capture and recycle stormwater. The project diverts and captures stormwater runoff from the community’s 375-acre watershed which is part of the overall Compton Creek Watershed. The stormwater is then treated through a system of processes including natural biofiltration through mitigated wetlands surrounding one of the park’s two lakes.
The treated water is stored within both lakes and reused for on-site park irrigation. The freshwater marsh wetland also creates important habitat for resident and migratory birds, insects, and other urban wildlife.
AHBE | MIG collaborated with other partners such as Paul Murdoch Architects, which designed the park’s 20,000 square foot Community Event Center (while complete, a separate opening date is pending) that stretches along the lake to offer indoor and outdoor social spaces with views of the water; and Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering Inc. (PACE), which designed the environmentally sustainable treated stormwater treatment system. Other project elements include:
A ½ mile lakeside community loop trail with picnic areas
Scenic viewing points
A destination children’s play area with a splash pad
Outdoor classrooms and educational interpretive graphics telling the environmental story of the park
California Native Coastal Sage Scrub and Freshwater Marsh Wetland Habitats
Community social spaces
Wedding lawn
“In the heart of the urban community of Willowbrook, Earvin Magic Johnson Park will be the ultimate destination where fitness, programming, and wetlands are laid out to provide play, health, and leisure opportunities for children and all demographics for generations to come,” said the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director, Norma E. García-González. “We are motivated by our mission to serve historically underserved communities through extraordinary projects such as the Earvin Magic Johnson Park; through the Park Needs Assessment and our partnership with the Regional Park and Open Space District’s Measure A program. The real magic is how neighbors, officials, funding and project delivery partners like MIG, collectively worked together to transform a once contaminated site, to a model of sustainability; a park by the people for the people.”
Former County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, in a previous statement, noted that “Magic Johnson Park has experienced a true transformation – it is now, finally, a park that will become the pride and joy of this community. My sincere appreciation goes out to all of the partners who have played an indispensable role in the revitalization and rebirth of this park.”
Phase 1-A builds on the initial project effort which started in 2014 in collaboration with Michael Baker International. At that time, AHBE | MIG developed the conceptual comprehensive plan that combines new recreation amenities with green infrastructure. With Phase 1-A reaching its conclusion, the renovations also demonstrate how urban environments can be models of water conservation - by reducing the negative impacts of untreated stormwater. With Californians every day using the equivalent volume of water of Shasta Lake, which is the state’s largest reservoir, Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park has the possibility to be a new model for urban water use, known as net-zero water.