53 Pocket Parks to Fill Foreclosed Properties in South LA

In the 12 acres between the Music Center and LA City Hall, block three of the new Grand Park was opened today with a ceremony featuring LA City and County officials.  The Grand Park is a $56 million project to create more usable open space in the urban center. Another park project will spend $80 million on 170 acres, but they're not all in the same place. The City of LA is buying up foreclosed properties and turning them into more than 50 new parks scattered all over South Los Angeles. They are the brainchild of former lawyer, now UCLA Professor of Communications Studies and President of Mayor Villaraigosa's Recreation and Parks Commission, Barry Sanders.