Resource Description

Resource Summary

Names
El Parque de Mexico (Primary)
El Parque de Mexico (Alternative)
Resource Types
District
Important Dates
No dates recorded
Keywords (Subjects)
No keywords recorded

Location Information

Addresses
Location Description
No descriptions recorded
Administrative Areas
Los Angeles City Council District 1 (Council District)
LINCOLN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (Neighborhood Council)

Classification

Classification
Use: Historic
Related Features
No features recorded

Resource Descriptions

General Description
"El Parque de Mexico is a commemorative area located adjacent to Lincoln Park in Lincoln Heights. Situated at the three-way intersection of Main Street, Mission Road, and Valley Boulevard, this area is composed of four triangular parcels displaying numerous statues, busts, and other commemorative installations honoring major figures from Mexican history and culture. Most visible to passers-by is a monumental bronze equestrian statue of General Emiliano Zapata, set atop a massive concrete pedestal with a surrounding water feature, by artist Ignacio Asunsolo (installed 1980). A circular memorial plaza features multiple concrete pedestals, many with bronze busts. Individuals represented include Felix Galvan Lopez (installed 1981); Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (by Efren de los Rios, 1938; installed 1982); and General Lazaro Cardenas del Rio (by Ernesto E. Tamariz, 1970; installed 1989). A statue of Benito Juarez occupies the center of the plaza (1976). Additional busts and statues are not labeled. Other features include two empty flag poles, and a low perimeter wall clad with glazed tile. Additional pieces situated throughout the park honor Francisco ""Pancho"" Villa (1980); Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon (by Julian Martinez, 1980); Venustiano Carranza (by Victor Gutierrez, 1980); General Ignacio Zaragoza (by Francisco Zuniga, 1981); Emperor Cuauhtemoc (1981); Agustin Lara (by Humberto Peraza, 1984); J. Jesus Gonzales Ortega (by Ayda, 1987); Ramon Lopez Velarde (by Francisco Zuniga, 1988); Doña Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez (by Velarco, 1994; installed 1996); Guadalupe Victoria (1997); and Ignacio E. Lozano (date unknown). A number of pieces have been vandalized or otherwise had their plaques removed such that the figures are not immediately identifiable. Additional installations include the Bell of Dolores, composed of a large concrete arch with a cast bronze bell (1978); a concrete monument to the Mission Road Highway-Railway Grade Separation Project (1978); a plaque in recognition of El Parque de Mexico founder Arthur K. Snyder (1981); and a wooden sign reading El Parque de Mexico."" Designed hardscape features include concrete pedestrian paths, low walls, planters, and curbing. Landscaping includes grassy lawns, agave plants, as well as various mature trees, including palm, pine, and eucalyptus."""

Summary of Significance
"El Parque de Mexico has been developed over several decades starting in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Originally conceived by Arthur K. Snyder, City Councilman of the 14th district, the area was dedicated to promote the cultural heritage of the Mexican American community in Los Angeles, and to demonstrate goodwill between the United States and Mexico. Over time, the park has accumulated numerous commemorative busts, statues, and other pieces honoring major figures from Mexican history and culture, many of which were gifts of Mexico City to the City of Los Angeles. To date, the park contains more than a dozen bronze pieces, including two large equestrian statues. While most of the pieces were likely commissioned specifically for El Parque de Mexico, some examples predate their installation in the park. This park, along with the adjacent Lincoln Park, continues to serve as a gathering space for the city's Mexican American community, especially on Mexican Independence Day (September 16th), Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), and Dia de la Revolucion (November 20th). El Parque de Mexico may be significant as a public sculpture park honoring major figures from Mexican history and culture. Regarding eligibility for listing in the National Register, this resource must also meet Criterion Consideration F, which states that a property whose primary significance is commemorative, that is designed or constructed after the occurrence of an important historic event, or after the life of an important person, must be over fifty years old and must possess significance based on its own value, and not on the value of the event or person being memorialized. However, more research is needed to determine the significance of the park itself as well as the individual statues, busts, and other commemorative pieces. Therefore, the evaluation could not be completed."

External System References

SurveyLA ID: 7c364b42-b580-4a61-ba77-2f172d892f81

Resource Significance

Evaluation Details

Date Evaluated
2017-02-02
Context/Theme
Other Context, 1850-1980
Event or Series of Events, 1850-1980
Other
Eligibility Standards
  • No CDFs/Associative Features checked
    • Integrity Aspects
    No Integrity Aspects checked
    California Historic Resources Status Codes (explanation of codes)
    QQQ
    Significance Statement
    "El Parque de Mexico may be significant as a public sculpture park honoring major figures from Mexican history and culture. However, more research is needed to determine the significance of the property. Therefore, the evaluation could not be completed."
    Periods of Significance
    No periods of significance recorded

    Related Resources

    Related Historic Resources

    None

    Related Historic Districts

    None

    Related Activities

    SurveyLA - Northeast Los Angeles Survey (was assessed in / assessed)

    Related Historic Events

    None

    Related People/Organizations

    Historic Resources Group (Surveying Firm, was surveyed by / surveyed)

    Related Information Resources

    Images
    Documents
    SurveyLA: Northeast Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey Report (Document/Text, is referred to in / refers to)

    SurveyLA

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    Office of Historic Resources

    Office of Historic Resources
    Department of City Planning
    221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 1350
    Los Angeles, CA 90012
    (213) 847-3676 phone
    Email: planning.historicplacesla@lacity.org
    http://www.preservation.lacity.org
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