GOOD GOVERNMENT; EXPOSITION PARK RENOVATION PLAN WILL BENEFIT L.A. FAMILIES, CHILDREN.

Byline: Mark Ridley-Thomas 

ONE of the most important responsibilities of elected officials is to take decisive action in response to the needs, concerns and hopes of those we serve. We are obliged to take advantage of opportunities, through your electoral voice, to bring about positive change in the quality of our communities throughout Los Angeles.

Such an opportunity is now before us as we consider the merits of placing family-centered bond measures on the November general election ballot. Approval of these measures is a commitment to improve the quality of our lives and those of future generations - a basic responsibility of government.

The Exposition Park Improvement Bond is a useful example of good government for three reasons: It advances the common good, particularly for the city's children; it makes our city a better place in which to live; and it is done in a fiscally responsible manner.

Beginning in 1988, a concerted effort involving local, state and federal support to redevelop the park took root. The result was the development of Exposition Park, a community-based effort coordinated under the leadership of nationally recognized architect Doss Mabe, a partner in the firm Zimmer, Gunsul, Frasca Partnership.

The primary objective of the award-winning master plan was to restore the park in the fashion of great urban parks - a concept upon which it was established. In essence, goals were set not only to restore the park to its former grandeur but to create an unprecedented urban resource that would become a model for the rest of the country and the world.

Contrary to criticism that it is a last-minute proposal, a lot of thought has been put into this effort. In fact, work on the master plan spanned several years and included input from a broad range of community-based organizations, business professionals and civic leaders from all levels of government. The document called for the development of facilities of more than 600,000 square feet that would be implemented in a three-phase process. In February, implementation of Phase 1 was completed on time and under budget, highlighted by the grand opening of the California Science Center.

Exposition Park now draws millions of families and young people each year for experiences that shape and strengthen their minds. A family that comes to the park tomorrow could explore the role of women in African sculpture, get excited about how automobiles are engineered, follow the journey of a microbe in the human body, or run at top speed through a garden of roses. The present offerings of Exposition Park are not only popular and stunning, they are unparalleled in the city and state.

For example, the enormous popularity of the California Science Center is demonstrated by the 1 million individuals who have visited the facility and the 12,000 families who have joined as charter members during its first four months of operation. Center attendance also reflects the city's diverse populations. More than half of the center's visitors are individuals who reflect every hue and region of this increasingly extraordinary city. We can point with pride to a recent report on the center's attendance that found visitors from the San Fernando Valley among the most numerous in the city. This is truly a resource for us all.

The tentative planning process that began 10 years ago is now being realized, and it is this momentum that is so critical to sustain. Phase 3 of the master plan has yet to be completed, and its completion is key to fulfilling the goal of making Exposition Park one of the most multifaceted of the great urban parks. The remaining phases of the master plan involve the creation of additional facilities and renovation of others. Primary projects are the remodeling of the historic Los Angeles Swim Stadium that will incorporate an Olympic-size swimming pool and other state-of-the-art recreational facilities, a science education resource center, extensive renovation and expansion of resources at the Natural History Museum, renovation of the California African-American Museum, and additional park improvements including work on the nationally registered Rose Garden - the celebrated centerpiece in arguably the most intact grouping of historic buildings in the city.

Making our city more family-friendly is an important goal of local government. This is a sound principle on which to make public decisions. Make no mistake about it: Creating wholesome recreational and cultural options for our city's youths is a well-established priority of every member of the Los Angeles City Council. The challenge or opportunity is to translate this priority into results. Now is the time to take a significant step forward for families across the Los Angeles Basin.

The cost to Los Angeles homeowners would amount to less than $2 (specifically, $1.84) in annual property taxes for 20 years. This is a small price to pay for making a major contribution to the quality of life for families and children throughout the Greater Los Angeles area.

The time has come to recognize Exposition Park as the place it was always meant to be - a shared urban resource for everyone and, above all, for our children.

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PHOTO Visitors walk toward the California Science Center at Exposition Park.

Evan Yee/Daily News