Community Assets and Risks

By: Vanessa Espinosa and Alyssa Lia Mancao
The community of Echo Park can be described as a colorful city that takes pride in its diversity and social networks. Assets, as well as risks, are visible and sometimes hidden throughout the neighborhoods. Churches, community centers, diverse family-owned restaurants are among few elements that enrich the city. The churches and community centers offer an array of support, such as Parenting classes, counseling, daycare, to the vulnerable population in the community. During an interview with the United Methodist Church Historian, he expressed his pride in being part of a diverse congregation. The Methodist church, one of many locations of worship in Echo Park, has been in the community for over 100 years. It provides its community with Bible Study classes, outings to plays, Narcotics and Alcoholic Anonymous meeting.


Another asset is the community is art, which is evidenced by beautiful murals throughout the town and posted flyers promoting art shows or events. Peter Shire’s art studio located in a renovated mechanic shop brings character to the Echo Park, as well.

Hidden gems in the neighborhood include the Victorian home area where houses located on and around Carroll Street are maintained in its original form. You will also find Los Angeles Dodgers t-shirts, hats or car accessories displayed proudly throughout the city. The fans in Echo Park take pride in living near the Dodgers stadium and several of them gather before and after the games in the neighborhood bars and restaurants.



One of the most visible benefits of Echo Park is its lake. The Echo Park Lake is a gathering spot where individuals and families relax, exercise, walk their dogs, and socialize in a peaceful and safe location. Echo Park is also the site of the annual Lotus Fair, which celebrates Chinese culture and attracts several Chinese Americans. Key facilities and programs found in the city are Gateways Mental Health Hospital and El Centro del Pueblo. Gateways provides in-patient, and outpatients services to mental ill adolescents and adults while El Centro provides counseling services to youths, job training, family preservation, and alcoholism & AIDS prevention.

While the numerous organizations, facilities, landmarks, and scenic views enhance Echo Park, the ostensible risk factors in the neighborhood attempts to take away from the beauty that surrounds it. There were several billboards, vacant lots, and businesses that were inundated with graffiti and gang- type markings.

Furthermore, homeless individuals were seen walking along various streets, with shopping cars filled with all of their belongings. Other homeless individuals were seen sleeping in front of the American Apparel Store, and at the Echo Park lake. Firefighter, Clock, stated that there will be an increase of homelessness in Echo Park. This is because the homeless individual’s occupying McCarthur park have been asked to leave and thus they have traveled to Echo Park. Other risks in the neighborhood include vacant lots, and several homes and businesses with bars on their windows, to prevent any unwanted visitors. There were even homes who had bars on the windows that were located on the second floor. While driving around in Officer Ford’s police car, he had driven us past a neighborhood that was known for their gang violence and incidences of rival shooting. Furthermore, while interviewing a young 18 year old community member of Echo Park, she had informed us that while she loved living in the neighborhood, she felt unsafe at night because of all of the gang activity. She had also mentioned that her friend had gotten shot by a stray bullet during a conflict between gang members, just a few blocks away from her house. Much of the risk factors seen in Echo Park can be attributed to homelessness and gang activity.