Big Al's Pizzeria
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DestinationDoMaywood
Benito Juárez Park
5515 Maywood Avenue, Maywood, CA 90270
Why go
Tiny community pocket park with mosaic dragon playground and native plantings created with residents
Official site, hours and details(opens in a new tab)How to get there
The story
About Benito Juárez Park
The inspiration
The Trust for Public Land, working with the City of Maywood and local groups Union de Vecinos and Padres Unidos de Maywood, ran a series of community workshops where residents set the priorities for a former vacant lot between two apartment buildings1,2 . Residents chose the name to honor Benito Juárez as a symbol of perseverance, and the design draws on his home state of Oaxaca, in the cultural vocabulary of the city's largely Mexican-American residents1,3,4 .
Who's behind it
Gina Fromer, then California director of The Trust for Public Land, framed the project around giving kids a place to play outdoors and experience nature2,3 . Local mosaic artist Jolino Beserra designed the park's play structures and art features, turning the play area into an artwork meant to stimulate kids' minds3 . The landscape design came from EPTDESIGN, and Griffin Structures managed construction4,2 .
What people are saying
Press coverage keeps returning to the park's centerpiece: a 40-foot-long, three-headed mosaic dragon by Jolino Beserra, described by The Trust for Public Land as a fully functioning play piece and neighborhood icon1,3,2 . Writers also single out how much fits into a third of an acre: a mini soccer field, a skate spot, a playground, and a shaded picnic area1,4,3 . The drought-tolerant, solar-powered design gets repeated attention as well2,3 .
Why you should try it
A pocket park in one of the park-poor corners of Los Angeles County, this is a rare spot where Oaxacan folk-art traditions meet everyday play1,4 . Note that the City of Maywood has closed the park for a renovation funded through a federal Community Development Block Grant, with updates posted on the city's site5 .
Sources
- 1. The Trust for Public Land (opens in a new tab): Benito Juarez Park - Our Work in CA (Mar 25, 2011)
- 2. Griffin Structures (opens in a new tab): Benito Juárez Park (Jul 29, 2019)
- 3. Edison International (opens in a new tab): Maywood Park Brings Fun for Neighborhood Kids (Jun 17, 2015)
- 4. EPTDESIGN (opens in a new tab): Benito Juárez Park (May 27, 2021)
- 5. City of Maywood (opens in a new tab): Benito Juarez Park
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Where this destination comes from
- Address checked: Oct 19, 2026, source (opens in a new tab). Hours and prices change, so check before you go.
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