The Landbridge – A Missed Opportunity

DISCLAIMER: Enrich La is a 501-C3 Non Profit. Text and images have not been supplied to the O’Grady campaign by the Non-Profit Enrich-LA.  Mention of Enrich LA and how proud Tomas is of it should be not be construed as an endorsement by Enrich LA.     Livability, community, culture, and history are only some of the things sacrificed when the Figueroa-Riverside Bridge was demolished in the summer of 2014.  This beautiful steel truss bridge, Los Angeles Historic Monument #908, could have offered Angelenos a beautiful gathering place similar to the High Line in New York.   Tomas O’Grady’s involvement in this project aimed to gear Los Angeles toward community.  Why waste money demolishing a perfectly stable bridge when it can easily be converted into a park? The Landbridge would have provided a distinct safe haven for pedestrians, bicyclists and families who want to connect to our parks and neighborhoods inside the city of Los Angeles.  It would have been a symbolic shift away from being car dependent, promoting walking, biking, and public transportation.   The demolition of this bridge, unfortunately, demonstrated not only a lack of historical reverence (Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition’s crossing of the L.A. River and commemorates the birth of the Pueblo that became Los Angeles) but also a lack of innovative thinking.  Repurpose an old bridge rather than spending money to tear it down.  Save taxpayers money and give them a better product at the same time.