A New Master Plan for the Los Angeles River

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to approved a new master plan for the L.A. River—the “Reimagined River.”

2 minute read

June 22, 2022, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


A cable-stayed bridge designed spans the water of the Los Angeles River, which is placid and dotted with rocks.

The North Atwater Bridge where it spans the Los Angeles River near Griffith Park. | Noah Sauve / Shutterstock

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a new master plan for the Los Angeles River earlier this month, to replace the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan approved by the county in 2007.

According to an article by Pilar Marrero for Ethnic Media Services, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approved the Los Angeles River Master Plan, dubbed “The Reimagined River,” despite a last-minute decision by local environmental and community organizations to withdraw support for the plan the day before the board vote.

“During a press conference at Maywood Riverfront Park, representatives of these groups had harsh words for the Master Plan and the county leadership,” reports Marrero.

According to Public Works Department Executive Director Mark Pastrella, the discord comes from a question of how much concrete to remove from the river.

“[Pastrella] added that the channel provides protection to residential areas that ‘almost every year, face tremendous flows of waters,’” according to Marrero. “Removing concrete would require building more dams, reducing habitats, and displacing more than 100,000 people now living near the river, he added.”

The article also notes one of the more controversial components of the new master plan—a proposed “South East LA Cultural Center,” built on a platform park elevated over the river. Frank Gehry, whose firm had a controversial role in the master plan process, originally proposed the cultural center project.

For more background on the master plan, see an article by Alejandro JSM Chavez and Diana Martinez published by the San Fernando Valley Sun a few days before the board’s vote. See also previous coverage of the Los Angeles River Master Plan.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 in Ethnic Media Services

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Two people on bikes riding down paved Burke-Gilman bike trail in King County, Washington on a sunny day.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

2 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Small green ADU cottage in lush backyard in San Jose, California.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits

The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

3 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Large oak tree in meadow with sun filtering from behind it in Angeles National Forest.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods

Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.

4 hours ago - ASLA The Dirt