MLK Jr. Park scores new sports field

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A class of fifth graders from Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary school in South LA excitedly rushed to score goals at the schools new sports field. Councilmember Bernard Parks and representatives from the deparment of recreation and public works announced the completion of the project that they say will provide a safer place for kids to play and excercise.

The bright green synthetic grass field is 80 by 130 feet surrounded by fencing and two sets of bleachers. The construction project cost about $650,000 from a special project fund. 

Minerva Hernandez, 20, lives with her family near the park. She says the field used to be all dirt and made the neighborhood look messy and dusty. "We talked about how to improve the park, how we can make it better and they actually listened. They took their time to renew the whole park, and make the park a better place," said Hernandez.

Michael Shull works for the Department of Recreation and Parks he explained how the plastic synthetic grass is an improvement over the natural turf. "It's hard to keep the grass actually growing because of the use. On our turf soccer fields we have to close them down for a few months to regenerate and grow back. A synthetic field we don't it can be used 365 days of the year" said Shull.

Last year, 18 new parks were built in the South Los Angeles area. There is an initiative to build 50 new parks next year through Proposition K, a 25 million dollar ballot measure that was passed in 1996 for the purpose of funding parks.

Eighth district council member Bernard Parks said the cost of the project grew significantly but will have a greater impact on the health of the community. "What I thought was so important when we first started the project, is that when you look at some of these schools like MLK Jr. school here, they have no green space on their campus it's all asphalt. So kids don't have a place to actually have a physical training exercise so we invited them to use this park as part of their school curriculum and they have," said Parks.

The MLK Jr. recreation center is the 20th park in LA to have a synthetic grass field.