Ted Watkins Memorial Park: Design Justice in Watts – Reparative Planning ‘In-Action’

Street-level rendering showing traffic calming and pedestrian improvements leading to the park's amphitheater
Rendering of proposed community space on Success Street with colorful tensile shade structure and amenities
Rendering of contemplative area inside proposed memorial amphitheater at Ted Watkins Park
Aerial rendering of the park's proposed amphitheater and interpretive areas
Labelled diagram of proposed traffic calming and safety improvements for Century Boulevard

By fusing improved pedestrian safety with vibrant public space and cultural celebration and commemoration, this community-driven collaboration sets a new standard for reparative planning and design.

Client

ACLU of Southern California, Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles

Location

Los Angeles, California

Markets/Services

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Mobility, Urban Parks & Public Spaces

Size

28 acres + 11 city blocks

The Design Justice in Watts – Reparative Planning ‘In-Action’ project provides a comprehensive approach to addressing traffic safety and enhancing the cultural and historical significance of Ted Watkins Memorial Park in Watts, Los Angeles. The design was developed in collaboration with SmithGroup, the ACLU of Southern California, Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, UCLA's Carceral Ecologies Lab, and the Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative under the leadership of Sister Helen Jones, a longtime community activist who lost her husband Bruce Phillips to a hit-and-run accident at the park.

The initiative looks to do more than improve traffic safety. It introduces a new model for traffic calming that transcends conventional measures by providing enhanced public space that inspires a greater sense of collective pride, care, and ownership. This approach protects residents and park visitors while creating an environment that encourages community use and engagement and strengthens local identity.

Designed to reduce vehicle speeds and create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly environment, the integrated traffic calming measures include the strategic placement of new trees, the construction of medians, and the establishment of protected pedestrian zones. The interpretive overlay incorporates educational and cultural elements that reflect the rich history and identity of Watts. Signage, interactive displays, and memorial installations commemorate significant events such as the Watts Rebellion, and the legacy of local heroes like Bruce Phillips.

Planview diagrammatic map of park showing areas of proposed memorialization and cultural and historic interpretation
Interpretive program map of park showing areas of proposed memorialization and cultural and historic interpretation.

 

The placemaking strategy is designed to foster vibrant, inclusive spaces that meet the diverse needs of the Watts community. Central to this vision is the installation of a multipurpose event space and a memorial, each serving distinct yet complementary roles.

The multipurpose space is envisioned as the heartbeat of community activation, offering a versatile area that can adapt to a wide range of formal and informal events and be closed off to traffic, transforming it into a safe, pedestrian-only zone.

Aerial rendering of park's proposed multipurpose space
A tensile structure spans across half of Success Street, providing a permanent feature for the multipurpose community space that adds character, shade, and opportunities for economic and community program expansion. The design’s fusion of West African and Mesoamerican textile patterns represents the evolving Black and Hispanic identity of the Watts community and expresses cultural diversity and unity.

 

The memorial serves as a dedicated space to honor the lives of individuals like Bruce Phillips, who tragically lost their lives in traffic accidents around the park. More than a site of remembrance, the memorial provides a catalyst for healing: a place where residents can come together to commemorate their shared history and find solace in their collective strength.

With annual pedestrian fatalities at an all-time high in Los Angeles, this project establishes a new way forward. The Ted Watkins Park plan is currently being shared with the City and County for review, which will be followed by fundraising and continued public and stakeholder engagement.

By focusing on solutions to traffic safety that leverage community reinvestment and aren’t centered on increased police surveillance and enforcement, the project aligns with broader neighborhood design justice goals. It also sets a new and nationally relevant standard for reparative planning in historically marginalized communities, creating a space that improves safety and wellbeing while celebrating the history, resilience, creativity and aspirations of the community.