Pershing Square, Public park in Downtown Los Angeles, US
Pershing Square occupies one full city block in downtown Los Angeles between 5th and 6th Streets, with lawns, pathways, and open plazas above ground. Below the surface sits a multi-level parking structure, while the park level includes benches, trees, and a small fountain that divides the space.
The square was established in 1866 as La Plaza Abaja and served as one of the city's first public green spaces. The name changed in 1918 to honor General John J. Pershing after he led American forces in the First World War.
The square includes a Spanish-American War Memorial from 1900, recognized as one of the oldest public art pieces in Los Angeles.
The park opens daily in the morning and closes in the late afternoon, with free pedestrian access from all four sides. During winter months, an ice skating rink is sometimes set up, and there are sections for children and dogs within the grounds.
In the 1950s, the entire park was excavated to make room for roughly 1,800 cars beneath it, while the surface remained as green space. This construction method was highly unusual in American cities at the time and reflected the growing influence of the automobile on urban planning.
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