Above Photo: FHCP delegation goes to Washington. (L – R) John Goodwin, Amy Yeager, Todd Warner, Brian Folb, Jason Brandman, Thaddeus Hunter Smith, Alfredo A. Hernandez, Senator Barbara Boxer, Michael LoGrande, Doug Campbell, Laurie Goldman, Scott Campbell, Gary Taglyan, Dave Gajda, Stella Kirakosyan, Jose Malagon and Alfred Fraijo.

On March 20th, a delegation of FHCP Board members, community members andbusiness and property owners participated in the Friends of the Hollywood Central Park’s Annual Advocacy Trip to Washington, D.C. This year’s trip included a 2-day stop in Chicago to learn the ins and outs of Millennium Park and a 2-day stop in New York City to tour the renowned Highline.  Clearly, parks are an economic engine for the local economy!

While in Chicago the delegation met with Millennium Park Executive Director Ed Uhlir who gave us a behind the scenes tour and provided in depth knowledge on the successes, creative strategies and lessons learned about developing the 24.5 acre park.  The delegation walked away with a wealth of knowledge and new ideas we could possibly adapt to the Hollywood Central Park.  

The delegation left Chicago and flew into our Nation’s Capitol for three days of meetings with the Administration, Members of Congress and Agencies.   On day one, after meeting with the City Parks Alliance, National Parks Service and the City of LA’s Federal Liaison the delegation had perhaps its most important and promising meeting with USDOT’s Director of Federal Highways, Victor Mendez.   Led by the incomparable Representative Adam Schiff the delegation discussed potential USDOT funding sources for the Hollywood Central Parkand was encouraged to apply for a TIGER planning grant.  Mr. Mendez and his staff expressed their continued support of the Hollywood Central Park and vowed to remain an active partner in the project.

In the next two days the delegation met with senior staff for Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Diane Feinstein, Representatives Xavier Becerra, Janice Hahn, Corrine Brown and Ed Pastor.  Representative Bishop of New York, who serves on the House Transportation Committee, provided insight and support.  And of course we had an outstanding meeting with , our champion Representative Adam Schiff who leadership guides our path to building to build the Hollywood Central Park..  Other key meetings included the Department of the Interior where we wereprovided  with new ideas and creative funding sources as well as a stellar meeting with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.  

Energized and inspired by an astounding three days of DC meetings the delegation traveled by train to New York City to tour The Highline, an elevated park on the Lower West Side of Manhattan.  The delegation saw first-hand the positive impacts a park of this magnitude can have on the surrounding neighborhoods.  Once a forgotten part of the City, it is now a bustling and revitalized neighborhood with exciting new commercial and residential opportunities for all to enjoy, residents and tourists alike.

If you’d like to participate in our March 2015 Advocacy trip or for information, please contact Alfredo Hernandez at Alfredo.herandez@hfcp.org