I went back for more. After posting a notice about the tour of the east side of Elysian Park I got the bug to go again. It had been about a year and a half, and the east side was mostly the way I had last seen it. (Except that on this day, in parkland just below, the not-a-confield park project was having its opening day ceremonies.) Scott Fajack of the Citizens' Committee to Save Elysian Park and the Echo Park Historical Society led the tour. He made a point of mentioning that the east side is open for wholesome reacreation, under-used as most of it is. The meadow which now sits on the spot that once was a reservoir is often used in the afternoons, he said, by rugby players and for soccer.

We did see plenty of guys sitting around, otherwise known as cruising, looking like they were waiting for us to leave -- the tour being an inconvenience, but one they had to put up with.

Scott also said he does not know of any drug dealing going on in the east side of the park.

Another change: the playground equipment that had been closed off with chain link barriers was now refurbished and ready for romping, with new regulation soft tread padding. But no kids.