Featured on KPCC: “Las Abuelas del Parque — the Grandmothers of the Park.” Here’s an excerpt or read the article.
Typically, they get to the park at 8:30 in the morning, wearing sneakers and pastel colored tracksuits. For almost two hours, a trio of retired ladies cleaned up an area that is landscaped with flowers. They pulled weeds and rake leaves · anything to keep this part of the park as tidy as when it first opened in 2007.
“Having this park here now keeps us from having to walk too far or get on the street,” said Anacelia Ruiz of Glassell Park, who is at Rio de Los Angeles Park seemingly every day of the week. “We’re here walking around the park three days a week and weeding or cleaning the park twice a week. This park has been a little blessing for us.”
Ruiz and her friends, Conchita Villalobos and Maria Aguilar, are part of a group of about 12 women who have come to be known as “Las Abuelas del Parque” · the Grandmothers of the Park.
“Well, we are grandmothers, and even great-grandmothers, but we’re not known as the Abuelas del Parque,” explained Ruiz and Villalobos.”
But you know? It’s not bad, it’s not a bad name at all!”