The full extent of downtown Los Angeles' long-planned Grand Park is set to open Saturday afternoon with a "block party."
The event marks the unveiling of all 12 acres of the manicured public green space that took about a decade to realize. It's part of the broader Grand Avenue Project meant to revitalize that area of downtown.
In July, city and county officials dedicated the park and opened its western half with a celebration including dancers, performances, speeches and a romp in the 1/4-inch-deep splash pool.
On Saturday, the eastern half is set to be made public. The four-block park now stretches from Music Center east to LA City Hall, from Grand Avenue to Spring Street between First and Temple streets.
Saturday's free festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. at the historic restored fountain on the park's western end, proceeding to the newer parts of the park.
At 7:45, a dance group called Bandaloop is scheduled to cap off the day's festivities with an aerial dance on the side of City Hall.
Grand Park was paid for with $56 million from Related Cos., a real estate company that in exchange received development rights for a plot occupied an aged parking garage across the street from Disney Hall.
The company's plans a 271-unit apartment building on that property have been stymied by the economic downturn.
City News Service contributed to this report.
