Come admire the third of at least four long-planned and oft-anticipated creations spanning the LA River.
No, not this one! The one just around the corner, and pictured below. The cache was originally located closer to that bridge, logically, but DNF Hound's short power trail along the river was submitted but not yet published when I placed and submitted this one, necessitating a revised approach. Hopefully, this slight relocation will squeeze it in. And still be relevant.
Although appearing sturdy enough to carry across a squadron of M1A1 Abrams tanks, the Taylor Yards LA River Crossing is designed solely for pedestrians and cyclists in order to facilitate, and I quote, "Bridging Communities." In fact, at the ceremonial opening,
"elected officials from every level of government — city, county, and state — gave speech after speech about connection. California assemblymember Wendy Carillo cited the “walkable, livable green open space our communities need.” L.A. city councilmember Gil Cedillo called it “a win for everyone” that “brings neighborhoods together.”
"Crossing the L.A. River in a car is extremely easy. A driver can navigate over dozens of handsome historic bridges, which nonresidents may recognize from every car commercial ever made. Walking or biking is a different story. Virtually all of the older crossings are for cars, and even if they are technically accessible to walkers and bikers, they’re treacherous. Along this part of the river in particular, known as the Glendale Narrows, the water is crisscrossed by multiple freeways requiring the negotiation of various on- and off-ramps, several bridges with multiple lanes for cars that are terrifying even if you’re on a sidewalk, and no dedicated east-west cycling route. These new pieces of infrastructure were sold as ways to improve access to the river along a bustling, crowded stretch where everyone from coffee-sipping strollers to kayakers humping their boats to the put-in point might share a path not much wider than a freeway lane.
What they built are three extremely expensive crossings — the total cost of all three bridges ballooned from around $14 million to $47 million (paid for with funds from taxpayers, local donors, L.A.’s transit agency, and one equestrian enthusiast) — that may get you over the river itself but will leave you stranded on the other side. ~(Alissa Walker, New York Magazine)
Somewhat ironically:
"The ribbon-cutting invitation provided attendees with driving directions only. Meanwhile, people who arrived from the west that morning and actually came to the car-free bridge using car-free modes of transportation found themelves locked out, as the ceremony took place on the eastern landing. At the end of the event, after giving their speeches about the role of walking and biking connections in reducing traffic and smog, the elected officials each walked back to their SUVs and drove away."
According to the construction supervisor I spoke with as I cycled by numerous times prior to the long-delayed opening, construction costs ran to more than $21,000,000. When I asked, "What is it for and where does it go?" he responded, I kid you not, "It's so the people who live on this side can shop and dine and go to clubs on that side, and vice versa."
Regardless of whether you consider this a responsible use of public funds, you can agree that geocaching is always a worthwhile proposition, even if it's only a quick grab such as this. Once you go around the corner, you may be impressed by the design and appearance in front of you, but here you're certain to experience an irresistible attraction.
Note: there are scattered homeless individuals in the area, both sides of the river.