Hollenbeck Park, one of Los Angeles’ oldest public green spaces, has long been a gathering place for residents to connect with nature, fish or take quinceañera photos.
The park has always been “the hub of LA,” said longtime Boyle Heights resident Don Baisa, describing its central location as a common stop for Greyhound and Metro riders on the Eastside. He recalls dance performances at the park’s bandshell, an amphitheater-like structure near the recreation center.
But today, vandalism and theft have taken a visible toll on Hollenbeck Park, damaging infrastructure and lighting throughout the grounds.
Repeated break-ins have left the historic bandshell offline for nearly two years, cutting off access to a space that once drew crowds from across the neighborhood. For many residents, what’s happening at the park reflects a wider problem with safety in public spaces throughout Boyle Heights and the Eastside.
For Baisa, 75, the bandshell’s closure represents more than limited programming.
“It’s a major problem over there in the park,” Baisa said. “You would think that you would see the retirees over there walking around the lake, maybe getting some exercise — that there would be programs, tai chi, yoga, that sort of thing. There’s none of that for us over there.”
The bandshell’s legacy and community programs
The bandshell has hosted generations of community events. Its walls feature a Judy Baca mural from the 1970s, and in 2017, it was the site of an Eastside history documentary premiere. The Roosevelt High School band even made headlines in 2015 when it staged an anti-gentrification performance in opposition to a traveling outdoor opera using the space.
Programs previously held at the bandshell included group mural painting, Día de los Muertos celebrations and dancing, according to Hollenbeck Park Advisory Board member Vivian Escalante. In 2024, the bandshell was closed and a chain-link fence was installed around it.
Park officials said programming did not entirely end with the bandshell’s closure, but was relocated to the park’s auditorium. Still, organizers and residents say the loss of the outdoor venue made it nearly impossible to expand programming and has meant less visibility for community events.
Infrastructure damage and safety concerns
Repeated break-ins since 2024 have left the bandshell and park infrastructure in disrepair. Copper wire and scrap metal theft have disrupted electricity to the stage, disabled lights and left 21 of the park’s 25 security cameras inoperable. According to public records, repairs over the last two years have cost more than $78,000.
“We had a plaque over there on a rock right near the corner of St. Louis and Fourth. And it was dedicated to the Hollenbecks, who established the park,” Baisa said. “Well, they stole it right off the rock. I’m going, ‘God, is nothing sacred?’ I’m surprised they didn’t take the whole rock.”
Sledgehammers, crowbars and power grinders were often used to break into electrical boxes, light fixtures and smash through the floor and walls of the bandshell to access the backstage area, service request records show.
Damage to a light post at Hollenbeck Park was one of several incidents that darkened the path around the park’s lake. A February 2025 maintenance report estimates more than $10,000 in damage was caused in a single night. (Courtesy of the Department of Recreation and Parks) 
In May 2024, intruders broke into the backstage area of Hollenbeck Park’s historic bandshell by cutting a hole in the stage floor. Electrical wire was stolen, and the building was breached in other areas. (Courtesy of the Department of Recreation and Parks) 
In a September 2024 report, former Park Director Armando Martinez estimated about $20,000 in damage from a vandalism incident that affected the backstage area and basement of the bandshell. (Courtesy of the Department of Recreation and Parks)
Across Los Angeles, residents have raised similar concerns about the connection between broken streetlights and public safety. From Hancock Park to Koreatown, the challenge has led city council offices to allocate discretionary funds to address the rampant issue.
In 2024, the city of Los Angeles received more than 46,000 service requests for street light outages, and an analysis of city data shows nearly 40% were due to copper wire theft.
“It’s been an issue for a very, very long time,” Escalante said. “Hollenbeck Park, unfortunately, is not very safe these days.” She added that the volunteer-led advisory board is currently trying to secure funding to repair the historic building. “We are unable to have the entertainment that we would like to have for the community.”
Former park director Armando Martinez declined to comment for the story, but according to comments he left in submitted maintenance requests, he and other park staff believe an increased security presence at Hollenbeck during off-hours would deter theft and vandalism.
Records from the Los Angeles Police Department show at least 57 calls for service to the area around the bandshell and Hollenbeck Park Recreation Center in 2025, resulting in 12 on-site reports and only two documented arrests.
LAPD Senior Lead Officer Johnny Altamirano told Boyle Heights Beat that logged arrests in the area are low because suspects often flee before officers arrive. Altamirano added that crime around Hollenbeck Park has been a challenge for years.
“There’s not enough manpower to dedicate one police officer to stay there [overnight],” Altamirano said, adding that he has directed officers to conduct increased patrols around the park if nearby.
Investing in Boyle Heights
Rose Watson, a spokesperson from the Department of Recreation and Parks, said the department is working to reallocate funding to address security issues, including concerns related to camera and copper wire theft. She said the department was also working with Council District 14 to identify and implement measures to mitigate the vandalism.
“Staff is currently evaluating options to repair, replace, or re-engineer the existing camera system to ensure long-term reliability and improved security,” she said.
According to a 2020 update to the Hollenbeck Park Renovation project, $3.1 million is set to fund renovations at the boat house, restrooms and bandshell.
Still, Escalante and Baisa say broader investment is needed to keep their local park and its programming accessible, and restore a sense of safety.
“Why is the leadership here unwilling to invest in Boyle Heights?” Escalante said. “When the budget comes out, Boyle Heights again is underinvested. Why are all of our communities not resembling each other as they should? Why are we not as amazing as Highland Park and Eagle Rock? We don’t have enough funding for the essential, basic necessities for our communities.”
