As reported by The LA Local, communities in the Arts District and Boyle Heights are collaborating to advocate for a strict anti-camping policy at the park beneath the 6th Street Bridge, which is slated to open next year.
Neighborhood Councils Unite Behind the Petition
Following a petition initiated by Arts District locals urging the city to establish an anti-camping designation for the sidewalks and perimeter of the upcoming park, the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council voted 13 to 1 in favor of supporting the measure. By taking this vote, the Boyle Heights organization aligns itself with the downtown Los Angeles Residents Assn. and the Arts District Little Tokyo Neighborhood Council, collectively pushing Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, and city officials to enact the designation and formulate a security strategy.
The move comes after residents on both sides of the Los Angeles River raised concerns for months about the possibility of homeless encampments forming at the park. Anti-camping zones, established through Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, bar people from sitting, lying, or sleeping in certain public spaces. Council members must get buy-in from their colleagues before enacting new 41.18 zones, though proponents point out that the L.A. City Council in 2024 already endorsed a zone for the 6th Street Bridge itself, which they believe should extend to the park beneath it. Former Councilmember Kevin de León initiated those earlier efforts.
Anti-Camping Zones Interfere with Housing Efforts
Jurado said in a statement that her office is confirming the boundaries as they relate to the park. Elsewhere in Los Angeles, efforts to establish or enforce anti-camping zones have received pushback. The City Council voted during August to support Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez in rescinding 12 anti-camping areas originally set up by his predecessor in District 13. Soto-Martínez’s office stated that enforcement under the city ordinance interferes with efforts to move unhoused residents into housing.
Expressing a willingness to hold candid and open discussions, Jurado pointed out that she wants to evaluate the practical outcomes and application of code 41.18. She added that anti-camping zones are just one piece of a much larger conversation about keeping the park safe and responding to homelessness.
This park represents a major public investment into equitable park space while bridging two historic neighborhoods. Ensuring its success from day one requires the honest dialogue and difficult decisions needed to address legitimate safety and access concerns while recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Sixth Street PARC Features Arts and Sports Facilities
Known formally as the Sixth Street PARC (Park, Arts, River & Connectivity), the space will feature an arts plaza, performance amphitheater, garden, terrace seating, a cafe, dog park, fitness equipment, and sports courts. Construction began in 2023, a year after the grand opening celebration of the bridge connecting historic Boyle Heights with the Arts District across the Los Angeles River.
Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council board member Shmuel Gonzales voted in favor of the designation because he wants the park to ultimately benefit the community after residents fought hard to get it built on the Boyle Heights side. Enforcement of an anti-camping zone would mean the city takes responsibility, he said, providing a fair process with proper signage so people are not surprised and the city facilitates transitions into housing. Margarita Amador, the neighborhood council’s secretary, stated that Boyle Heights holds the biggest recreational section of the park, including the soccer field and water splash area. Tom Trafelet, who created the petition after living in the Arts District for more than 20 years, told council members that he wants equity and a safe space for families on both sides of the bridge.
