During the 90s I remember hearing about the Belmont High School project near downtown that was plagued by many problems, a major one being that the building site was an old oil drilling site as well as a small earthquake fault – so there would be health issues. I really had no idea where this was, in those days, DTLA and the environs were scary and off limits.
I’ve heard that an old oil field near Echo Park had been turned into a park, so on a lovely spring day I went to investigate. Only to discover that I was in the middle of the old Belmont controversy. 
It’s springtime, all these native (or near native, Mediterranean plants) are blooming. I love spring flowers. As the season warms up most of these flowers will die off and we’ll be left with golden brown chaparral.
The park covers 10 acres, has wonderful paths around the perimeter as well as a large grassy area, picnic tables, a play ground as well as a water feature. Also, the park is designed to trap rain water as well as run off water, so apparently the irrigation is utilizing that water. We need more projects like this in the southland.
The views are amazing. You should know me by now, any time I can get a view of DTLA I will.
Orange and purple, what a great color combination. Yes, I’m thinking of my sewing projects here, everything is an inspiration.
Like this, the whole image screams modern quilt, not just the building in the foreground. The high school was eventually built and is now the Edward R. Roybal Learning center.
For all of you suffering from hay fever this time of year, this is where that yellow pine pollen comes from.
Another wonderful thing about this park is that with all the natural plantings, this has become a stop for migratory birds. 
Here is a beauty. This is the Western Scrub Jay. He is local and common, I’m sure he loves the new park, since these birds like trees and bushes. Apparently he has a screechy voice, I didn’t hear it, he was silent when I saw him.
There is a little man made stream, to my amazement I was actually able to capture this hummingbird as he came to drink. I’m used to the non-descript brown ones, this one is a little jewel.
Of course, people and dog sightings as well.
A sight we probably won’t see much longer. The park is next to the famous Bob Baker Marionette theater. Bob died last year, the theater was sold and it looks like an apartment building will replace it. There may be a mention of the theater, but with progress, many old buildings go.
From here I went on to Echo Park Lake, subject of a future post.
Leah
Yes, isn’t this a lovely park. I love all of the levels. We visited on New Year’s Day. I must go back to see all of the flowers!
Now is the time! With our heat waves the flowers won’t last long.