Wishing Tree Park in West Carson, California officially opened last month, replacing a brownfield site with a much-needed green space for recreation and respite.

Wishing Tree Park officially opened last month, transforming an 8.5-acre brownfield site into much-needed public green space in the community of West Carson. The park's dedication on May 16th, 2024 marks the culmination of a 30-year effort led by community members and other key stakeholders. Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell highlighted the significant impact the park will have on the community, providing a beautiful green space and recreational area for generations to enjoy.
The park site, once home to a synthetic rubber production facility, underwent significant environmental remediation. Shell Oil and Dow Chemical, the former owners, sold the site to the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust for the development of a new park in 2015. The newly established park now features a variety of amenities, including a children's play area, futsal (soccer) courts, a baseball field, a basketball court, walking trails, and exercise equipment. A memorial plaza also honors community members who were instrumental in the park's creation.
The name “Wishing Tree Park” pays homage to the community's long-standing hope for green space. Over a decade ago, ficus trees were planted in anticipation of a future park, with one tree becoming a symbol of hope as children wrote wishes and placed them in its branches. This “Wishing Tree” represented the community's desire for a beautiful park, a wish that has now been fulfilled with the opening of Wishing Tree Park, providing a safe and vibrant public space for West Carson residents to enjoy.
FULL STORY: L.A. County opens Wishing Tree Park in West Carson

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.