Taylor Yard facts for kids

Taylor Yard is a special place in Los Angeles. It used to be a very busy train yard where Southern Pacific Railroad trains were inspected, repaired, and stored. Today, it is home to the Rio de Los Angeles State Park and a new facility for Metrolink trains.

History

Taylor Yard started in 1911. It was named after the Taylor Feed Mill that was there before. The yard was rebuilt in 1949.

After the 1950s, fewer trains used the yard. This was because more goods were moved by trucks. Also, many factories in America closed. In 1983, about 25,000 train cars still passed through Taylor Yard. About 1,200 people worked there. This was much less than the 5,000 workers in the 1950s.

Southern Pacific closed the yard on November 14, 1985. They said business was slow. Workers thought it was because Southern Pacific wanted to merge with Santa Fe Railway.

The Southern Pacific company removed the buildings in 1988. In 1991, the county bought the eastern part of the land.

In 2003, the California Department of Parks and Recreation started to create the Rio de Los Angeles State Park. The first part of the park opened in April 2007. It covers about 279 acres (1.13 km2).

In 2017, the city bought the northern part of Taylor Yard, called the G2 parcel.

New Projects and Developments

"Rumblefish" Taylor Yard Bridge

In June 2019, construction began on a new bridge. It is called the "Rumblefish" Taylor Yard Bikeway and Pedestrian Bridge. This bridge connects Taylor Yard to Elysian Valley across the Los Angeles River.

The bridge is about 400 feet (122 meters) long and 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. It is part of a bigger plan to improve the Los Angeles River. The project cost $20.8 million. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority paid for it all.

Taylor Yard G2 River Park

The Taylor Yard G2 River Park will be built on 42 acres (0.17 km2) of land. The city bought this land in 2017 for $60 million.

This park will have green spaces, wetlands, and other fun areas. Mayor Eric Garcetti called it the "crown jewel" of the plan to restore 11 miles (18 km) of the Los Angeles River. The park is expected to be ready by 2028. This will be just in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

In July 2019, the city showed three ideas for the park's design. They were called The Island, Soft Edge, and The Yard. A special viewing platform will be built. This will let people see how the river changes before the park opens.

Paseo del Río Project

The Paseo del Río project means "river walk" in Spanish. It will be a walkway about 1 mile (1.6 km) long. It will be built along the Los Angeles River at Taylor Yard.

The 100 Acre Partnership is in charge of this project. It will be paid for by grants from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Bowtie Parcel

The State of California owns a part of Taylor Yard called the "Bowtie Parcel." It is about 18 acres (0.07 km2) big. This land is just north of the G2 parcel, along the river.

There are plans to turn this area into the second phase of the Rio de Los Angeles State Park. Right now, the state uses this space for public art events. It also has art installations and pop-up events. These are done with a local group called Clockshop.

Other Developments

Taylor Yard Transit Village is a new community. It is built on 24 acres (0.1 km2) at the southern end of Taylor Yard. It is next to the Rio de Los Angeles State Park.

This community has apartments for rent and homes for seniors. It also has regular homes, shops, and green spaces.

In Spring 2020, a developer suggested building another complex. It would be north of the Bowtie Parcel. It would have 419 homes, shops, and a parking garage.

Nature and Environment

Taylor Yard is right next to the Los Angeles River. As the river flows past Taylor Yard, it goes through an area called the Glendale Narrows. In this part, the river bottom is not covered with concrete. This is because the water level underground is very high.

The soft river bottom has plants that grow near rivers. It also has open water and sand bars. These are supported by water flowing all year long.

Buildings and Structures

Two famous parts of the old Taylor Yard were the Roundhouse and the Dayton Tower. The Roundhouse was a circular building for trains.

The Dayton Tower is the only building from the old yard that is still standing. It has been moved three times.

By the 1950s, Taylor Yard was a very important place for trains in Los Angeles. The yard became bigger and more complex. This was because more things were being made and more people lived in Los Angeles. The yard had three main areas: one for trains arriving, one for sorting them, and one for trains leaving.

Environmental Checks

Experts have checked the soil at Taylor Yard. They found four areas with high levels of certain substances. These include lead, hydrocarbons (like oil), arsenic, and antimony.

One area is around where trains used to turn around. Another is near the fueling and sanding tracks. A third is along the southern part of the old roundhouse. The fourth is near the diesel shops.

Tests show that the soil near the surface is mostly "fill material" (dirt brought in). Below that, there are layers of sand and silty sand. There are also 30 wells on the site. These wells help experts check the amount and quality of the water underground.