Former Mayor Cristobal Aguilar signed Pershing Square into being in 1866, at which time it was called La Plaza Abaja ("The Lower Plaza"). During the 1880s and '90s, it was known as 6th Street Park and Central Park, but was renamed Pershing Square in 1918 in honor of General John J. Pershing. The park was first renovated in 1911; in the 1950s a car garage was built beneath it; and in 1994, it was completely redesigned by architect Ricardo Legoretta and landscapist Laurie Olin and was rededicated on February 3, 1994. Pershing Square takes up the entire block and is bounded by 5th Street to the north, 6th Street to the south, Hill Street to the east, and Olive Street to the west. Numerous people sitting on benches, shaded by large banana plants, in Pershing Square. Some of the park visitors are reading newspapers.
Parks--California--Los Angeles Pedestrians--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Lampposts--California--Los Angeles Banana plants--California--Los Angeles Reading--California--Los Angeles American newspapers Pershing Square (Los Angeles, Calif.) Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.)
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