Vista Hermosa Natural Park

Vista Hermosa Natural Park is an urban public park located in Echo Park, Los Angeles, on a former 10.5‑acre oil field. Opened in July 2008 at a cost of $15 million, it was the first new park in Downtown Los Angeles in over 100 years. The park is managed through a partnership among the Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. During construction, polluted topsoil was removed and replaced, and a ventilation system was installed to control dangerous gases. Visitors can explore walking trails, streams, meadows, and oak savannahs. The park also offers picnic grounds, a nature‑themed playground, and a soccer field. In 2023, the American Society of Landscape Architects gave the park The Landmark Award, praising it for providing recreational space to a working‑class neighborhood generally lacking in parks.