Exposition Park (urban park)



Exposition Park is a 160 acre in the south region of Los Angeles, California, in the Exposition Park neighborhood. Established in 1872 as an agricultural fairground, the park includes the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, BMO Stadium, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the California African American Museum. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is under construction. Bounded by Exposition Boulevard to the north, South Figueroa Street to the east, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the south and Vermont Avenue to the west, it is directly south of the main campus of the University of Southern California.

The park is a public open space, managed by the Sixth District Agricultural Association.

Features
Exposition Park houses the following:
 * LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium
 * BMO Stadium
 * Home of Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC
 * Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (under construction)
 * Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
 * Home of USC Trojans football
 * Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
 * California Science Center
 * IMAX Theatre at California Science Center
 * Space Shuttle Endeavour
 * Exposition Park Rose Garden
 * California African American Museum
 * Concrete hand and footprints signed by Ed Begley Jr. of St. Elsewhere and other actors from medical TV shows such as Ben Casey
 * EXPO Center (includes the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium) and the Soboroff Sports Field (soccer). Originally managed in 2006 by Bentley Management Group, the Soboroff Sports Field was relocated to the contiguous parcel in 2018 to allow construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
 * Science Center School and Amgen Center for Science Learning (formerly California National Guard Armory)

The cultural facilities mentioned above are operated by both the state and Los Angeles County.

Former venues

 * Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

History
The 160 acre site served as an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910 (hence its original name, "Agricultural Park"). In 1880, John Edward, Ozro W. Childs, and former California Governor John G. Downey persuaded the State of California to purchase 160 acre in Los Angeles to foster agriculture in the Southland. Farmers sold their harvest and arces on the grounds, while horses, dogs, and even camels competed on a racetrack where a rose garden now sits and blooms. In 1909, a group of civic-minded individuals led by former Pasadena Mayor Horace Dobbins set about reforming the park, removing the racetrack and other activities and replacing them with gardens and museums.

Olympic Games
Exposition Park has served as the Olympic Park for the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics. At the 2028 Summer Olympics it will serve as an Olympic Park once again, as the Coliseum will host Athletics as well as the main closing ceremony. BMO Stadium will be one of the soccer venues and the LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium will host diving.

Public transportation
Along the northern edge of the park, the Metro E Line light rail line serves the park with its Expo Park/USC Station. On the northeast, (Flower Street and 37th Street), the Metro J Line bus rapid transit serves Exposition Park & USC at its 37th Street/USC Station on the Harbor Transitway. The J Line station is located on the freeway median level of the 1-110 freeway.

Department of Public Safety
The Exposition Park Department of Public Safety provides law enforcement and security services to the Park. DPS officers are California peace officers sworn under section 830.7 of the California Penal Code and have peace officer powers of arrest while on duty. Since 2014, the DPS has been managed under contract by the California Highway Patrol, who provide management, leadership, training, and policy development for the DPS. The Chief of the Department is CHP Captain Adam Smith.