One month ago, the City of Santa Monica celebrated the opening of Ishihara Park, a linear green space in the Pico Community.

Located along 2.35 acres of land bounded by Exposition Boulevard, Dorchester Avenue and Stewart Street, the park was built as a buffer between the light rail maintenance facility of Metro's Expo Line and the surrounding neighborhood.

Landscape architecture firm Mia Lehrer + Associates designed the project, which is intended to showcase "ecology, history, community health and well-being."  The park is broken into several distinct components, including a children's play area, shaded seating and a community garden.

Ishihara Park was named in onor of George Haruyoshi Ishihara, a Japanese-American World War II veteran and 50-year resident of Santa Monica until his passing in 2009.