“Welcome to Western” Festival Celebrates New Streetscape Improvements

From October through December of last year, “Welcome to Western,” a streetscape improvement project for Western Ave., which is designated one Los Angeles’ Great Streets, worked on engaging neighbors and soliciting ideas for improvements to the local streetscape.  This week, new street furniture, pavement markings, and other items created by urban design group LA Más  to make the section of Western between First and Council Streets more colorful, fun and welcoming to pedestrians and business patrons, were installed…and then celebrated with a big community festival on Saturday, August 25.

The festival, centered in the parking lot of the HK Market at 124 N. Western Ave., included performances by Korean dancers, vocal and drumming groups, remarks from local city officials (including City Council Member David Ryu), booths from a variety of local community organizations (including the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, EmpowerLA, and the Koreatown Youth and Community Center), arts and crafts projects for all ages, food trucks, and a scavenger hunt featuring 10 nearby businesses.

The new streetscape improvements include:

• 30 pieces of street furniture and new street markings near Western and 1st
• 73 new trees planted
• 75 colored light poles
• 15 sets of aluminum palm leaves on light poles
• 11 “Welcome to Western” posters at transit stations
• 1 bus shelter mural (at Western & Beverly)
• 20 bike racks on parking meters
• 6 newly painted storefronts
• 30 trash bins
• 6 utility box murals
• 2 mid-block crossings with flashing signals (on Western between 1st & 2nd, and Beverly & Council)

Here are some images from Saturday’s event, extending the community’s big “Welcome to Western!”