A product of The Trust for Public Land’s Parks for People program which aims to develop parks in under-served communities, Benito Juárez Park was planned in collaboration with residents in this dense community of 27,000. Residents in the small 1.14-square-mile Maywood, the most densely-populated city west of the Mississippi, attended several workshops to establish priorities for this pocket park.

Griffin managed construction of Benito Juárez Park which transformed a former vacant lot, situated between two apartment buildings, into a valuable community resource featuring a small soccer field, a skateboard area, playground, picnic area. The playground centerpiece is a 40-foot-long colorful, mosaic dragon created by local artist Jolino Beserra.

With no storm drain connection and a limited budget, the site incorporated bio-swales and a filtered bio-retention basin. A succulent garden, drought-tolerant native plants, and the field’s artificial turf limit water usage, while neighbor-friendly, night-sky lighting is powered through solar panels installed onsite.

Edison International provided a $50,000 grant for park construction.  See their video