Paddle Boat Show Opening This Saturday
A group of residents concerned about the shutdown of pedal boat operations at Echo Park Lake and MacArthur Park have organized two photo shows to help raise awareness about the issue. Here are the details:
Boats have been operating at Echo Park and MacArthur Park for over 100 years—and now they are shut down. Why? Apparently they operate at a loss, but not a very large loss—one easily borne by the City of Los Angeles. It’s simply a matter of priorities and whether or not the City will support all city residents, including the Echo Park and Pico Union’s predominately Latino and working class neighborhoods, by maintaining and protecting a wonderful and historic recreational activity—the simple pleasure of riding a pedal boat on a city lake with friends and family.
Boating on the beautiful Echo Park and MacArthur Park lakes needs to be preserved as an important cultural and historical treasure. With some pressure, the City will find the relatively small amount of money needed to save the boats. We hope you will get involved.
With this in mind, a group of photographers, part of the Los Angeles League of Photographers, will have 2 photography exhibitions to highlight the issue and to mobilize support for the boats. Please see the announcement below. In October, the photo exhibit will be at Mama’s Hot Tamales Restaurant at 2124 W. 7th Street across from MacArthur Park (opening on Saturday October 13th between 1-3 p.m.) and in November, the photo exhibit will be at the Downbeat Cafe in Echo Park located at 1202 N. Alvarado Street (opening reception on Saturday November 3rd from 6-8 p.m.).
TAKE ACTION!!
Please take action now to let the decision makers know that you want the Echo Park and MacArthur Park boats to operate year-round for the benefit of the city and its residents by calling and writing the following people (and periodically following up with them until the boat operations are fully restored at both lakes):
1. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 North Spring Street, Room 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: 213/978-0600 Fax: 213/978-0750
E-mail: Mayor@lacity.org
2. General Manager Jon Mukri, L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks
1200 W. 7th Street Suite 748, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Telephone: (213) 928-9033
E-mail: jonkirk.mukri@lacity.org
3. Daniel Grunfeld, President of the Board of Commissioners
L.A. City Department of Recreation and Parks
1200 W. 7th Street, Suite 762, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Telephone: (213) 928-9040 Fax Number: (213) 928-9048
E-mail: rap.commissioners@lacity.org
4. City Councilmember Ed Reyes (City Council District 1–for MacArthur Park)
200 N. Spring Street, Room 410, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: (213) 473-7001 Fax: (213) 485-8907
E-mail: councilmember.reyes@lacity.org
5. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti (Council District 13–for Echo Park)
200 North Spring Street, Room 470, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone: (213) 473-7013 Fax:(213) 613 0819
E-mail: councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org
Also, encourage your local neighborhood organizations to get involved with this issue and PASS THIS EMAIL ALONG TO OTHERS. For more information about the boats or the Los Angeles League of Photographers, contact Martin Cox at photos@martincox.com.
