Exposition Park (Los Angeles)
Exposition Park is a urban park in the south region of Los Angeles, California, in the Exposition Park neighborhood. Established in 1872 as an agricultural fairground, the park includes the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Banc of California Stadium, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the California African American Museum. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is under construction. Bounded by Exposition Boulevard to the north, South Figueroa Street to the east, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the south and Menlo Avenue to the west, it is directly south  of the main campus of the University of Southern California. The park is public open space, managed by the Sixth District Agricultural Association. Features. Exposition Park houses the following: The cultural facilities mentioned above are operated by both the state and Los Angeles County. History. The site served as an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910 (hence its original name, "Agricultural Park"). In 1880, John Edward, Ozro W. Childs, and former California Governor John G. Downey persuaded the State of California to purchase in Los Angeles to foster agriculture in the Southland. Farmers sold their harvest and arces on the  grounds, while horses, dogs, and even camels competed on a racetrack where a rose garden now sits and blooms. In 1909, a group of civic-minded individuals led by former Pasadena Mayor Horace Dobbins set about reforming the park, removing the racetrack and other activities and replacing them with gardens and museums. At the 2028 Summer Olympics, the Coliseum will host Athletics as well as the main closing ceremony. The Banc of California Stadium will be one of the soccer venues. Public transportation. Along the northern edge of the park, the Metro E Line light rail line serves the park  with its Expo Park/USC Station. On the northeast, (Flower Street and 37th Street), the Metro J Line bus rapid transit serves Exposition Park & USC at its 37th Street/USC Station on the Harbor Transitway. The J Line station is located on the freeway median level of the 1-110 freeway. Department of Public Safety. The Exposition Park Department of Public Safety provides law enforcement and security services to the Park. DPS officers are California peace officers sworn under section 830.7 of the California Penal Code and have peace officer powers of arrest while on duty. Since 2014, the DPS  has been managed under contract by the California Highway Patrol, who provide management, leadership, training, and policy development for the DPS. The Chief of the Department is CHP officer Captain David Dashiell.