A former rail yard that opened in 1875, Los Angeles State Historic Park has been repurposed into a beautiful 32-acre park with looping, flat walking paths and views of downtown. It’s a short Metro rail trip from Pasadena to Chinatown, where we will debark and walk a block to the park entrance.  A stroll through the park will cover between 1.3 – 1.5 miles.  After the walk we’ll stop for coffee at Cargo Snack Shack, which is located at the park and has outdoor seating.

Here are a few highlights:

- Walk on several short sections of historic, 19th century, hand-chiseled, granite paving stones that were installed by railroad workers to help expedite the delivery and distribution activities at the former Southern Pacific freight house.

- View a few pieces of public art including A Monument to Sharing, an installation artwork composed of phrases culled from recorded conversations with surrounding community members that wrap around the bases of 32 orange trees. The oranges are for everyone to share and the phrases create a 32-line poem that becomes one voice describing what it means to be a great neighbor.

- Squint through and across a chain-link fence and service road to spot a remnant of the brick-encased Zanja Madre or “mother ditch.” This was the initial earthen walled ditch that carried water from the Los Angeles River to El Pueblo de Los Angeles.

- Walk across an elevated walkway that traces the outside perimeter of the historic River Station Roundhouse site. Built in the 1880’s, the roundhouse surrounded a 75-foot diameter turntable used to place locomotives into one of the many roundhouse repair stalls.

We’ll be catching the train from the Pasadena area around 8:30 AM to arrive at Chinatown at 9:00.  I’ll distribute and coordinate Metrorail departure times the week of the walk.  I will board at Sierra Madre Villa Station and sit in the first car.  You can join me at that station or depart from one that is more convenient for you.  

Contact Jane Hufnagel with any questions.