A Gate in Southgate
A Gate in Southgate, originally uploaded by lavocado@sbcglobal.net.
On my way home from a second visit to "Tomorrow's city", Lakewood, CA, I thought I'd see what was happening in Southgate, "My Blue Heaven." I'd been there in spring, 2007, on my walk down the L.A. River. I remember that windy day, when I had to walk a several blocks in order to cross a street. Then, on a second visit, I found the entrance to the river bike path at the end of Southern Street. Much of Southgate looked just as I remembered it. Bell Foundry was still there, though it looked emptier than before, and I wasn't sure it is still in operation. Firestone Blvd. is still uncrossable. But the entrance to the bike path has been made pretty with butterflies!
Last year I photographed a bike that looked like it had been abandoned by the fence:
It was just straight bars then, not very inviting. The stone of the gate had been painted in beige anti-graffiti paint which looked very ugly. Now the paint is gone and a shiny surface has been applied. They are still struggling with graffiti on the river wall. It's been painted white, but new graffiti have been added since it was painted..
Here's another view of the new fence:
I continue to be fascinated by all the places downstream from downtown L.A. They call them the Gateway Cities.