The South Park District

South Park is a flourishing urban neighborhood nestled in the entertainment hub of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). Housing both the famed Sports & Entertainment District and a vibrant residential community, South Park proudly offers something for everyone. Home to L.A. LIVE, Microsoft Theater (formerly Nokia Theater), STAPLES Center, Los Angeles Convention Center, California Hospital Medical Center, world-class restaurants, over 6,000 residents, many new development projects, and much more, South Park is the place to be.

As the two-time recipient of the International Downtown Association (IDA) Pinnacle Award – in 2015 for Public Space Improvements and in 2016 for Events and Programming – the South Park Business Improvement District (BID) continues to ensure that the neighborhood is reaching its full potential and moving toward bigger and better goals.

View the South Park BID Management Plan here.

The Business Improvement District (BID)

What is a BID

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a formally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in a defined region. BIDs vary in the supplemental services they provide, such as public safety, maintenance, marketing, and capital improvements. The efforts are funded by a special assessment paid by the property owners in the district. A BID is a public/private partnership, which allows governing bodies and property/business owners to unite in a collective effort for the maintenance, development, and promotion of their commercial district.

About the South Park BID

The South Park BID (SPBID) works relentlessly to ensure the Southwest corner of DTLA is clean, safe and ever-improving. Launched in 2005, the South Park BID is a non-profit 501(c)6 managed by the South Park Stakeholders Group.

Nestled in the Sports & Entertainment District, the SPBID manages the area containing the STAPLES Center, L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles Convention Center, California Hospital Medical Center, and LA Metro Pico station stop. The general boundaries of operation currently cover a 32-square-block region outlined by the Harbor 110 freeway (West), the Santa Monica 10 freeway (South), Margo Street alley (East), and Olympic Boulevard jumping to 9th Street at Flower Street (North).

A Board of Directors, made up of South Park property owners and stakeholders, oversees the management of the SPBID. The full-time management team leads the day-to-day operations of SPBID initiatives and programs including: security and maintenance of our streets, coordination with local developers, interaction with our valued residents, and business support services. The Board of Directors also works closely with city agencies in carrying out the City of Los Angeles-approved South Park BID Management Plan.

Our Clean and Safety Teams, who are easily recognized by their signature forest green South Park uniforms, patrol South Park 24-hours a day, seven days a week to ensure a positive experience for visitors and residents. To learn more about Clean and Safe services, visit our Services page.

Our Mission

The mission of the SPBID is to continually support the unique living and commerce experience for its residents and businesses by facilitating a safe, clean, collaborative and wholesome environment, while leveraging the opportunities that arise due to its location and role in the historic transformation of DTLA.

History

South Park’s unique and dynamic culture can be attributed to its deep urban roots. Learn more about the history of the region here.

1887

California Hospital Medical Center opens and moves to South Park, establishing it as the first building in California designed specifically for medical purposes.

1890

Fiesta Park, a precursor to the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment District, becomes home to football games and other city spectacles. The University of Southern California and St. Vincent’s College (Loyola Marymount University) hosted games in Fiesta Park before each had their own sports stadiums.

1900

Industrial developments, dance halls, automobile dealerships, and residential hotels dominate the South Park landscape. The first natural rubber road installation on the West Coast takes place in South Park at the corner of Figueroa St. and Venice Blvd.

A huge explosion of commercial growth takes place in the 1910s, ’20s, and early ’30s in the historic core, while South Park houses much of the residential and hotel uses in the area.

1909 Map

1957

Downtown’s strict limit on building height is lifted, resulting in the first skyscrapers across the area. Prior to this, buildings in the area were not allowed to be taller than City Hall.

1969

Los Angeles Convention Center begins construction along Figueroa St., opening to the public in 1971.

1972

Los Angeles Department of City Planning publishes a blueprint for the neighborhood in the Southwest corner of Downtown LA, referencing it as “South Park”. The design included a large “Central Park” and a friendly, pedestrian-friendly streetscape along Hope St. While the plan has not been brought to fruition, the area has henceforth been known as South Park.

1972 South Park Blueprint

1991

The LA Metro Blue Line opens in South Park, connecting Downtown LA to Long Beach with a station stop at Pico Blvd. and Flower St.

1999

AEG opens the STAPLES Center, housing the LA Kings, LA Lakers, and LA Clippers. The LA Sparks join in 2001. The STAPLES Center ignites a rapid transformation to the surrounding area in Downtown LA.

The South Park Stakeholders Group (SPSG) is formed.

2000

Construction begins on new luxury apartments and condominiums with ground floor retail in South Park.

2005

The South Park Business Improvement District (BID) is formed by the South Park Stakeholders Group (SPSG). Ground breaks for the L.A. LIVE campus, beginning with Microsoft Theater and Microsoft Square (formerly Nokia Theatre and Nokia Plaza).

2007

L.A. LIVE opens to the public as an entertainment and dining addition to enhance the STAPLES Center experience.

2012

The LA Metro Expo Line opens in South Park running from Downtown LA to Culver City, sharing the Metro Pico station with the Blue Line.

2013

The South Park BID rebrands with a new spotlight logo and tagline, “The Place to Be.”

Metro Charter Elementary School, located on the campus of California Hospital Medical Center, is founded.

2015

The South Park BID wins the IDA Pinnacle Award for Public Space Improvements.

2016

Services begin in South Park II, the 20-block area immediately east of the original Business Improvement District boundaries.

Today

South Park continues to be the epicenter of some of the most exciting and new development projects in Downtown LA. South Park is recognized by Jones Lang-LaSalle (JLL) as “Downtown’s Most Vibrant District.”

About The BID