The seemingly wild dream of a park on top of the Hollywood Freeway took a baby step toward reality Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for the first time met with local officials about the proposed 44-acre Hollywood Central Park, which would create a street-level expanse of green over the capped freeway between Hollywood and Santa Monica Boulevards.

Rep. Adam Schiff, who was in the Washington D.C. meeting along with representatives from Friends of the Hollywood Central Park, said LaHood was interested in the project and offered to have his staff work to help plan next steps.

Schiff said the meeting was "a very positive development."