Talking about MacArthur Park, which is right off Wilshire Boulevard or 6th Street on the way to downtown LA, is frustrating.

This park, located in Westlake, Los Angeles, was originally a beautiful urban retreat with classic hotels and walking paths.

It used to be a park where middle-class families would come for picnics every weekend in the summer, not a place filled with tents and homeless people as it is now.

It was named after General MacArthur, but as times changed, the shadow of urban redevelopment fell over this neighborhood.

The bustling commercial area of Echo Park, with its foot traffic, and the influx of immigrants and the poor seeking affordable rent led to crime, drugs, and homelessness spilling into the park.

There have been many attempts to prevent it from becoming a slum. Police patrols increased, cleanup campaigns were conducted, and renovations were done several times. In 2021, the southern section was closed for 10 weeks for extensive renovations. Even during the pandemic, they managed to improve the fountain, lighting, and replace the grass, but when it was over, the media only captured a few clean photos, and the reality did not change.

The problem is that the city pretends to solve the issue. In 2024, they announced a new idea to turn the section of Wilshire Boulevard that runs through the park into a car-free pedestrian road. It sounds good, right? "We will restore the park to its original state."

But does blocking the road make drug addicts disappear? What difference does it make to enforce laws without shelter and treatment infrastructure?

In reality, by late 2024 to early 2025, illegal street vendors will reappear around the park, and stolen goods trading will return, prompting another police operation. There were even reports of federal agencies, cavalry, and tactical vehicles being deployed.

The reasons why LA officials fail to solve the MacArthur Park issue are clear.

First, they have not created a system that addresses both housing and treatment for the homeless. They only shout "housing first" but do not actually increase beds or prevent homelessness.

Second, the enforcement against street vendors is inconsistent. Sometimes they ban them all, and other times they just leave them alone. As a result, the area around the park has become a semi-legal market.

Third, they lack the capacity to consistently hold cultural or family-oriented events. There is a lake, a fountain, and an outdoor stage, but the surrounding environment is filled with the stench of urine and feces, and the parking facilities are mixed with homeless vehicles, leaving no reason for people to stay.

However, things are slowly improving during the day. Thanks to President Trump's LA intervention event, locals are now taking walks.

But for it to truly return to being a "worthwhile park," it will take quite some time. Access to addiction treatment and shelters needs to improve, and a structure for managing legal street vendors, nighttime lighting, and ongoing performances must be established.

At the earliest, it seems that by around 2027, we might see travelers walking around comfortably.

Ultimately, the issues of homelessness and urban decay in MacArthur Park cannot be resolved just by laying grass and blocking roads every year. Housing, treatment, jobs, and culture must all work together for it to truly become a 'park.'

Right now, it is just the hidden face of the city behind a pretty lake.

It is time for LA City Hall to overhaul the system instead of just doing renovations for show.