slide-the-city-water-slide

Some city officials are now backing a proposal to transform a downtown Los Angeles street into the equivalent of a giant Slip’N Slide for one day later this month. The support from City Councilman Jose Huizar comes after weeks of meetings with representatives from Slide the City, the company that hopes to hold the event.

The meetings resulted in changes to the proposal, which Huizar’s office believes adequately address concerns of water recycling and traffic congestion.

In a written statement, Huizar spokesman Rick Coca said the councilman’s office is “OK with them moving forward.”

Changes to the proposal:

  • The date of the event would switch from Sept. 27 to Sept. 28.
  • The slide was originally proposed to stretch along Olive Street. Now it would run along Temple Street, between the federal courts building and City Hall.
  • The water, estimated at 15,000 gallons, would be collected and used to water Griffith Park.

Since the plan became public last month, more than 10,000 people have signed an online petition saying the slide is an inappropriate use of water during the drought. (Full story at KPCC)