Pavilions situated along the LA River will house numerous facilities and amenities and will form a network of programs and activities to support a continuous and unified experience along the river trail. Pavilions serve as an asset for river users and river-adjacent communities. They should complement existing community assets, such as parks, schools, community facilities, neighborhood food vendors, and public transit, to form enriched nodes of interest. Other master plans and site plans have already identified several sites for facilities and amenities, but additional pavilions are necessary to establish a regular and equitable cadence for all river users.
The architecture of the river pavilions should meet the highest standard of design excellence. All pavilions should have a finished floor elevation above the 1% storm level event, or be developed in such a way as to be resilient during flood events. The maintenance planning for the pavilions is critical.
The river pavilions have been organized into three tiers based on the number of amenities that are provided. Pavilions with baseline amenities will occur more frequently in the cadence along the river, while pavilions with added amenities occur more intermittently at an appropriate cadence. Tier I pavilions, the baseline, include seating, shade structures, drinking fountains, waste disposal, and an emergency call box. Tier II pavilions include the baseline amenities of Tier I pavilions plus restrooms, bike racks, picnic tables, charging stations, and vending machines, with optional barbecues and outdoor showers. Tier III pavilions include all Tier I and II amenities in addition to a cafe, indoor showers, lockers, public safety station, and bike rental and repair. Sports equipment rental, multi-purpose rooms, and community kitchens can further enhance Tier III pavilions. Larger pavilions, in particular, operate as destinations in themselves attracting visitors to the river. Within each tier, pavilions can adjust in scale, configuration, and specific programming to respond to local site conditions, community needs, and complement amenities that may already exist.