2021 Sustainable Innovation Awards - Project of the Year
Honor: Equity + Environmental Justice Award
Honor: Water Award
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park has been vital to the unincorporated Willowbrook community, Watts, and surrounding South LA neighborhoods since its conversion from an oil tank storage site by LA County in the 1980s. Community engagement meetings were initiated in 2014 to envision the park’s current master plan. Mainly 120 acres of open space, the community is now building resources previously unavailable to most of majority Black and Latinx South LA within the park, such as a new LEED Gold and WELL certified 19,801 SF community event center. Ongoing environmental remediation presents both a challenge and opportunity in technological innovations. Community and Environmental Amenities:
• A methane mitigation and monitoring system for ongoing petroleum hydrocarbon remediation
• A storm water recycling system that collects runoff from the park and a 375 acre urban watershed, transforming the park’s manmade lake infrastructure into a Net Zero Water system
• A 19,801 SF community center that provides one of the only civic spaces in all of South LA - potential uses include conferences, events and weddings
• Enhanced security lighting and walking paths
• A splash pad and children’s play area
• Exercise equipment
• An outdoor wedding pavilion
More on the project achievements:
http://www.gbig.org/buildings/1073417