Every winter–except 2020–there is ice skating in downtown Los Angeles. It’s unlikely and wholesome fun for LA families. But in 2018 the activities for children expanded to give the event are more carnival-like feeling. The temporary ice rink was set up in Pershing Square by a group that calls itself the Holiday Ice Rink, but I am not certain who brought in the bouncy-houses, miniature merry-go-round and kid-size train.
This expanding event probably does not make the Pershing Square Restoration Society very happy. They want to return the Square to something similar to its park-like original configuration over 100 years ago. Mostly it would be grass and trees and statues if they had their way. I am not sure where the urban ice skating rink would go in their plans, not to mention the children’s playground and the dog park lined with tall pink concrete cylinders and bougainvillea.
Redesign the Square?
The current configuration of Pershing Square–and there have been 5 redesigns since the beginning–was done in 1993 by the famous Mexican Modernist architect Ricardo Legorreta, landscape architect Laurie Olin, and artist Barbara McCarren. And as the years have rolled by the playgrounds were added in recognition of the growing number of families living downtown. I used to favor restoration, but no longer. Grand Park, just a few blocks away, has plenty of grass and trees and some statues, too. Pershing Square should remain as it is today.
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