Destination Crenshaw facts for kids
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| Established | 2019 |
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| Location | Crenshaw Boulevard, Hyde Park, Los Angeles |
| Type | History and culture of African Americans |
| Architect | Zena Howard, (Gabrielle Bullock, managing principal) Perkins+Will |
Destination Crenshaw is an exciting outdoor museum being built in Los Angeles, California. It's like a long art walk, stretching about 1.3 miles (2 kilometers) along Crenshaw Boulevard. This special place is all about celebrating the rich history and culture of African Americans. It will feature new small parks, amazing outdoor sculptures, colorful murals, unique street benches, and beautiful plants.
What is Destination Crenshaw?
Destination Crenshaw is an open-air museum. This means it's outdoors, not inside a building. It's being created along a busy street called Crenshaw Boulevard. The goal is to honor and share the stories of African Americans. It will show their important contributions to art, history, and culture.
Design and Art
The design of Destination Crenshaw includes four main areas, called "nodes." Each node has a special theme that celebrates African American art and history in the area.
The first node, at the north end, is Sankofa Park. It's a big new public park right next to the Leimert Park Metro station. You'll see a special symbol here: a Sankofa bird. This bird looks backward while moving forward, holding a precious egg. It represents learning from the past to build the future. Visitors can enjoy great views from an elevated platform. Famous artists like Charles Dickson, Maren Hassinger, Artis Lane, and Kehinde Wiley will have sculptures in Sankofa Park. Nearby, Leimert Plaza Park is a well-known gathering spot. It has been a center for African American art and culture in Los Angeles for a long time.
The second node is at 50th Street, near Crenshaw High School. Its theme is "Dreams." This area was inspired by Paul Revere Williams, a local African American architect. He was famous for designing many buildings in Los Angeles. A sculpture by Alison Saar here was inspired by her memories of her mother, artist Betye Saar.
You'll also find "The Crenshaw Wall." This wall has a long history of murals and graffiti art. These artworks celebrate Black culture and share important messages. The existing mural, "Our Mighty Contribution," shows thousands of years of Black history. A new mural, "The Struggle Continues," will add to these powerful themes.
The third node, themed "Firsts," is around 54th Street. It includes new small parks. Artist Melvin Edwards created a work here. It reminds him of his very first sculpture, which was shown nearby in 1963.
At the southernmost end, near Slauson Avenue, is I AM Park. A work by Brenna Youngblood will be placed here.
The design firm for the project is Perkins and Will. Architect Zena Howard has over 25 years of experience. She specializes in creating projects that honor Black history. She calls this "remembrance work." Her past projects include the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Groundbreaking for Destination Crenshaw happened on February 29, 2020. The museum will feature 100 permanent and temporary public artworks.
Why Destination Crenshaw Was Created
The Crenshaw district is a very important area. It's known as the "heart of African American commerce" in Los Angeles. Destination Crenshaw was planned to celebrate this community. It aims to highlight the area's unique identity.
The idea for the project came about because of changes happening in the area. A new light rail train line was being built. Also, a big stadium, SoFi Stadium, was being built nearby. Some people worried these changes might make the neighborhood lose its unique character. This project is a way to make sure the community's history and culture stay strong. It celebrates being "unapologetically, authentically black." Just like Koreatown and Chinatown have their own identities, this project will give the Crenshaw community a clear identity.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, a Los Angeles Council member, helped lead this project. He brought together many community leaders. These included artists, activists, musicians, and community planners. Famous people like Issa Rae spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. She said the project is special to her because she grew up in the area.
Local businesses were worried about the new train line. It would remove parking spaces, which are important for shops. The project is working to help these businesses. It offers grants for improvements like building repairs and new sidewalks. Contractors building the project will also hire workers from underrepresented groups. This helps make sure the project benefits the people who already live there.
The project is expected to cost about $100 million. It has received money from the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, and Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority also approved $15 million. This money is for Sankofa Park and other improvements along the train route. The Getty Foundation gave $3 million for art commissions and conservation. Many other people and groups have also donated to support this important project.
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