Angels Walk Connects and Promotes Historic Landmarks in Wilshire Center

Los Angeles, CA - Wilshire Center's reputation as a pedestrian environment and historically rich neighborhood will be further enhanced with the installation of an Angels Walk program over the next few years. The Angels Walk project is an extension of the city's transportation services and will link Wilshire Center's landmarks and diverse and historic neighborhoods to our regional transit system including Metro Rail, Metro light rail, Metrolink commuter rail, DASH, local Metro Buses and Amtrak. To help pedestrians navigate the area, signs on kiosks will indicate the direction of key destinations and indicate how many minutes it will take to walk there. Guidebooks (written by Patt Morrison and Cecilia Rasumussen of the LA Times) will include historic photos and descriptions of the landmarks with a focus on architecture, art, folklore and filming locations. Transit maps, side strolls and local restaurants, attractions and services are also identified in the guidebook. The Guidebooks will be available at transportation centers, office and hotel concierge and at the landmarks listed in the book.

Gary Russell, executive director of the Wilshire Center Business Improvement Corporation states; "Angels Walk is not about creating great places so much as it is about connecting the ones we have. Wilshire Center is a great place to live, work and shop and Angels Walk will help to bring visitors to our neighborhood, increase use of public transit and reinforce how many wonderful historical and cultural assets exist in Wilshire Center." Angels Walk is funded through the MTA's Call for Projects, with additional support from the Department of Transportation, Community Redevelopment Agency, the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau and the private sector. The first Angels Walk focused on Union Station, El Pueblo, Little Tokyo and the Civic Center. The next Angels Walk focused on the Bunker Hill/Historic Core District. In addition to the Wilshire Center Angels Walk, there are Angels Walks in planning stages for Chinatown, South Park and the Figueroa Corridor. For more information about Angels Walk visit the website http://www.lacity.org/ANGELSWALK/index.htm