Exposition Park is a 160-acreurban park (65 ha) in thesouth region ofLos Angeles, California,[1] in theExposition Park neighborhood. Bounded by Exposition Boulevard to the north, SouthFigueroa Street to the east,Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the south andVermont Avenue to the west, it is directly south of the main campus of theUniversity of Southern California.[2]
The park was established in 1872 as an agricultural fairground, the park is now notable for containing several significant museums and sports venues, such as theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum,BMO Stadium, theCalifornia Science Center, theNatural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and theCalifornia African American Museum.[3]
The park is a public open space, managed by the Sixth District Agricultural Association. It has served as the Olympic Park on two occasions (1932, 1984) and will again in 2028.
Exposition Park houses the following:
The cultural facilities mentioned above are operated by both the state andLos Angeles County.
The 160-acre (0.65 km2) site served as an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910 (hence its original name, "Agricultural Park"). In 1880, John Edward,Ozro W. Childs, and formerCalifornia GovernorJohn G. Downey persuaded the State of California to purchase 160 acres (0.65 km2) in Los Angeles to foster agriculture in the Southland. Farmers sold their harvest and arces on the grounds, while horses, dogs, and even camels competed on a racetrack where arose garden now sits and blooms. In 1909, a group of civic-minded individuals led by former Pasadena MayorHorace Dobbins set about reforming the park, removing the racetrack and other activities and replacing them with gardens and museums.[4]
At the2028 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum will hostAthletics as well as the main closing ceremony. The BMO Stadium will be one of the soccer venues.[5]
Along the northern edge of the park, theMetro E Linelight rail line serves the park with itsExpo Park/USC station. On the northeast, (Flower Street and 37th Street), theMetro J Linebus rapid transit serves Exposition Park & USC at its37th Street/USC Station on theHarbor Transitway. The J Line station is located on the freeway median level of the 1-110 freeway.
TheExposition Park Department of Public Safety provides law enforcement and security services to the Park. DPS officers are Californiapeace officers sworn under section 830.7 of theCalifornia Penal Code and have peace officer powers of arrest while on duty.[6] Since 2014, the DPS has been managed under contract by theCalifornia Highway Patrol, who provide management, leadership, training, and policy development for the DPS.[7] The Chief of the Department is CHP Captain Adam Smith.[7]
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34°00′53″N118°17′14″W / 34.014659°N 118.287177°W /34.014659; -118.287177
