observations

I observed the rose garden in Exposition Park on a Sunday afternoon. The main groups I noticed were Hispanic families, groups of kids, and some people who looked as if they were USC students. I think the rose garden is a very inviting place on a Sunday afternoon because it’s gated in, but still open feeling, and it is a ways away from the street so it feels fairly safe. There is plenty of visibility so you can’t be approached suddenly without some warning. The one thing that makes this not as diverse expected is its location. It is in South LA so obviously the people visiting the garden will probably be from the area. However, I do think that it is set up very well and it is inviting for all people. The garden closes at dusk (the front gate is locked shut), although one could hop over the gate quite easily. This provides a visual barrier, without being too intrusive when spending time inside the garden. People came and went throughout the hour, and mostly stayed for about half an hour or so. Some just dropped in to run around for a few minutes and others stayed for quite a long time.