Paddle boats: don't go quietly. ... My friend Martin Cox took the time to write a plea on behalf of the Echo Park Lake paddle boats, which are facing extinction, with a drop-dead date of Sept. 9.

Martin:

I took this picture [above] to note the passing of a long era of entertainment on Echo Park Lake. After 111 years of boating on Echo Park Lake, Parks and Recs have decided to withdraw the boat after September 9th.

It is notable that there have been long lines each and every weekend over the summer for the boats and only half of the boats have been available for hire, the rest (about 12) are in lay up, despite the demand. One wonders when the reason given is budget why so many remained unrented.

This miserable withdrawl has prompted member of the Los Angeles League of photographer to hold two exhibtions about the topic, one at Mama's Hot Tomales in MacArthur Park and the other at the Downbeat cafe in Echo Park.

To recap, Recs and Park said "no more boating" with little warming at the beginning of the summer, Eric Garcetti found cash to keep it going for the summer weekend only. Now that money has run out. Rec and Parks claims they loose $90,000 a year, a figure I dispute, this figure no doubt includes the week day boating from last summer, which is under used, people are at work, however weekend only boating is HUGELY popular. There have been lines out the boat house waiting for boats.

Half a block a way on Bellvue Ave is the closed Echo Park recreation Center, which a year ago was a vibrant hub of sports and games for young people, it closed for repairs then stalled, no there is no activity and no reopening date. Echo Park needs something for kids to do, we have those things in the pool and center and the boats, but one by one they have been withdrawn.

A group of photographers called The Los Angeles League of Photographers were galvanized over the story in the times about the boats being closed, and have been shooting around this issue over the summer. There will be an exhibition opening at Mama's Hot Tamales in MacArthur Park in October, and a second show at The Downbeat Cafe in Echo Park in November. Each show will reflect park use, recreation and the boats in visual terms of each park.

I could not have said it better.

Rec and Parks Info: General Manager, 1200 W. 7th Street Suite 748, Los Angeles, CA 90017;
Telephone: (213) 928-9033.

Rec and Parks comment email line: rappublicinfo@lacity.org

Martin Cox: cel 213 482 2676