Interviews with Residents at King Park

By Taylor Griffin, Dorsey High School student

I grew up around the 39th and Western area and so did most of my family. My family witnessed a full transformation. They were there when the park was just a parking lot. We’ve seen the drug sales, the violence and every negative thing you could think of. Now due to the community and Community Coalition we have seen the park change for the better -- a change that’s real.

It’s a great tale that shows that lots of work and dedication goes a long way. It shows you that if people really want to get rid of negative things that affect the community’s quality of life, they can do it by coming together to chase that element OUT and make their streets safer.

Martin Luther King Jr. Park has changed tremendously for the better. The residents of 39th and Western all agree that the park has become safer and much cleaner. Now that the park is in a good condition people bring their kids and also do other activities. These videos highlight the sense of safety and fun that now exists at the park.

Picnic at King Park

By Taylor Griffin, Dorsey High School student

On a sunny Thursday afternoon at Martin Luther King Park in South LA, long-time resident Gail McKinley enjoyed a picnic with her two granddaughters Zoney and Lavette Howard. Sitting on a blanket and enjoying the calm sounds of children playing on swings having fun, McKinley remembers this park once being a dangerous place she would never bring her children or granddaughters to before.

Gail’s children and grandchildren were born and raised in the community and still live nearby. Before the changes at King Park took effect, Gail remembers the park being full of violence and gang bangers. There were always shootings and the park seemed to be in excess of drug addicts abusing the park. She would never have taken her grandchildren to the park before the recent changes.

Gail notices the new peaceful environment where it is violence free and more for the kids. Even though the park has went through many wonderful changes Gail and her granddaughters feel that they can improve the park by adding bathrooms and water fountains also by keeping them clean. King Park has always been a part of Gail’s life, “Lots of good memories but mostly bad . . . but now everything is much better now… THANK GOD!”