Councilmember proposes four-block pedestrian plaza in Koreatown

City Councilmember Heather Hutt has introduced a motion to close a four-block stretch of 6th Street in Koreatown to vehicle traffic, in order to create new public open space in the densely populated neighborhood. The proposed closure, which would span from Catalina Street to the east to Normandie Avenue to the west, would first be tested through a weekend pilot program conducted by the Department of Transportation. The feedback from nearby residents and users of 6th Street would then be used to determine whether a permanent closure to vehicular traffic should be implemented. Koreatown is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles, yet it is also one of the most park poor. While there are large green spaces located at the neighborhood's fringes, such as Lafayette Park and Seoul International Park, there are no similar facilities within central Koreatown. However, a small pocket park is currently under construction at the Pio Pico Library's parking lot. The proposal comes after a successful temporary closure of an adjacent stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between Catalina and Alexandria Avenue in 2021, when Streets For All, Walk n' Rollers, and the Koreatown Neighborhood Council hosted a block party in the vacated street. A survey following the event showed that 77.8% of respondents supported a closure of a portion of 6th Street to create a plaza. Councilmember Hutt has also initiated motions for several park projects in her district, which includes both Koreatown and South Los Angeles. Accurate, fact-checked rewrite of the article. Originally reported by Urbanize LA at https://la.urbanize.city/post/councilmember-proposes-four-block-pedestrian-plaza-koreatown.