Local Gems: Leimert Park meets Expo Park
Join us for the second CicLAvia Sunday of the 2026 season—and our 66th CicLAvia Sunday since 2010! CicLAvia—Leimert Park meets Expo Park is happening on Sunday, June 28th, from 9am to 4pm.
This CicLAvia Sunday offers a chance to explore some of the many local gems in the area outside of a car! From the colossal stadiums of Expo Park to the tree-lined streets of Leimert Park, from world-class museums to thriving Black-owned local businesses, this route is rich in history and culture.
Check out our Interactive Digital Map to plan out your day, and keep in mind that CicLAvia is not a race. Enjoy the event at your own pace, snap some photos, and learn some history with us at CicLAvia—Leimert Park meets Expo Park.
This Local Gems post was compiled by guest writer John Perry, a local transportation advocate. You can see more of his work at his website, Transiting Los Angeles, where you’ll find local guides and videos about LA transit!
Leimert Park Village
Named for its developer, Walter H. Leimert, this neighborhood was one of the first planned residential communities in Los Angeles when it was laid out in the 1920s. Designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the sons of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Leimert Park is defined by wide, tree-lined streets that converge at a central point: Leimert Park Village.
For the first years of its existence, racially restrictive housing covenants barred people of color from living in Leimert Park. But after such restrictions were lifted in 1948, Black residents began moving in, and Leimert Park soon gained an identity as an important cultural center. Today, that identity is fostered through many Black-owned local businesses, art centers, music venues, and community spaces.
Leimert Plaza Park
4395 Leimert Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Situated on the corner of Crenshaw and Vernon, this small park marks the entrance into Leimert Park Village. From the park, the block of Degnan Blvd just north is lined with many beloved local businesses and community spaces. The park itself is an important gathering place for the neighborhood, hosting celebrations, community festivals, local vendors, and a weekly drum circle.
Vision Theatre
3341 W 43rd Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90008
First opened in 1932, this theater sits on the north side of Leimert Plaza Park and is a neighborhood landmark, with a towering sign and architecture in a blend of Spanish and Art Deco design. Originally opened as a movie theater, the property later served as a Jehovah’s Witness chapel. In 1990, it was bought by actress Marla Gibbs, who began the process of transforming it into a performing arts venue. Since 1999, the City of Los Angeles has managed the venue, which is currently closed for an extension renovation scheduled to be completed in 2027. Programming at the refurbished theater will be managed by the WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater Center, co-founded by Tina Knowles, mother of singer Beyoncé.
Sika
4325 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Currently the longest-running business in Leimert Park Village, Sika has been in business for over 30 years. The shop is named for its founder, Sika Dwimfo, who moved to L.A. in the 1970s. Sika had a passion for making jewelry, which he sold at local street fairs before opening his namesake shop. After Sika’s passing in 2024, his daughter Milan assumed ownership of the shop and continues his legacy, selling custom handmade jewelry, African-inspired art, garments, accessories, and home décor.
Ride On! Bike Shop
4319 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Ride On! is a Black-owned community bike shop and co-op. It was the first Black-owned bike shop in the neighborhood in over 30 years when it opened in 2014. The shop offers affordable repairs, guided cultural tours, and community programming from capoeira to DJ classes. The shop also serves as an operations hub for South Central Power Up, a massive free e-bike lending library serving South Central L.A.
Roll through on CicLAvia Sunday or stop by their bike repair booth at our Leimert Park Hub.
The Plant Chica
4311 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
The Plant Chica is a family-owned plant nursery and greenhouse founded by Sandra Mejia and Bantalem Adis, with a deep commitment to serving Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. The shop specializes in houseplants, plant installations, workshops, and community events to make plant ownership accessible and joyful. Stop by and share your love of plants!
Lore Leimert Park
4334 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
On the other side of Degnan is this cozy bookstore, celebrating Black heritage and the creative force of the African diaspora. Inside, you’ll find a curated selection of books, with a focus on print, design, and cultural memory through a Black lens. The store often hosts events in its upstairs space, such as readings, workshops, author talks, performances, and community gatherings, as well as public programs by the local arts organization Art + Practice. Pop in and check them out!
Art + Practice Exhibition Space
3401 W 43rd Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Right across the street from Leimert Plaza Park on the corner of 43rd Pl and Degnan, Art + Practice is a local nonprofit that provides Angelenos with free access to contemporary art. Its exhibitions are curated in collaboration with the California African American Museum. Currently on view are Between a Memory and Me, an exhibition of the work of photographer Rahim Fortune, and Kinship & Community: Selections from the Texas African American Photography Archive. The Art + Practice Exhibition Space is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11am-5pm.
Details of Untitled by Dean Erdmann (left) and Untitled by Mickalene Thomas (right). Photos courtesy of Metro Art
Leimert Park Metro Station
1218 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Just around the corner from Leimert Plaza Park on Crenshaw, this relatively new (opened in 2022) underground Metro station on the K Line connects the neighborhood to the wider Metro Rail network. Throughout the station are a series of artworks inspired by the streetscapes and natural and architectural elements of the area, including the photography-based artwork, Untitled by Dean Erdmann along the platform and a vibrant tile mosaic, Untitled by Mickalene Thomas on the concourse level, which includes depictions of the Leimert Plaza Park fountain and the Vision Theatre. As you emerge onto the street level, you’ll be greeted by the colorful glass panels of Ingrid Calame’s Talking Drums, which incorporates rubbings of familiar objects found in the neighborhood.
MLK Blvd & Crenshaw
This intersection is dominated by the presence of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, a shopping mall that spans both sides of MLK Blvd just west of Crenshaw. The mall dates back to 1947, when the competing Broadway and May Company department stores opened on opposite corners of the intersection. The mall is noteworthy for being one of the first major shopping centers built specifically for the automobile and for innovating the now-common retail practice of using a large department store to anchor smaller shops. The original buildings facing Crenshaw are notable examples of Streamline Moderne architecture. A newer indoor mall, built in the 1980s with an enclosed bridge overlooking MLK Blvd, sits just behind. The center is currently in a period of transition, as a project is now underway to transform the mall into a mixed-use complex.
Museum of African American Art (MAAA)
3650 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Suite 283, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Founded in 1976, this small museum is currently located inside Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, on the second floor of the mall. MAAA is dedicated to educating visitors about the arts through the lens of African American culture. Currently, it features selected works from the museum’s permanent collection to commemorate the museum’s 50th anniversary, including a mural dedicated to MAAA's founder. Admission is free.
Celes King III Memorial
SW Corner of MLK and Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
On the street just outside the mall is a prominently placed memorial to local African American businessman and community leader Celes King III. During WWII, King joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. After the war, King led a remarkable life full of achievements, including managing the Dunbar Hotel on Central Avenue when it was a prominent cultural hub of the Black community. King also served in leadership roles in several civil rights organizations, was a co-founder of the annual Kingdom Day Parade celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, and spearheaded the effort to rename what was then Santa Barbara Avenue to today’s Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Details of You are heading in the right direction by Eileen Cowin (left) and Only Light, Only Love by Shinique Smith (right). Photos courtesy of Metro Art.
Martin Luther King Jr. Metro Station
4051 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Just south of MLK along Crenshaw, this underground Metro station on the K Line contains a set of artworks celebrating the cultural richness of South L.A. Along the platform is You are heading in the right direction, a set of photographs by Eileen Cowin depicting local community members. On the concourse level is Only Light, Only Love, a playful mosaic mural by Shinique Smith that mixes elements of fashion, pop culture, and calligraphy. And on the street level, the entrance pavilion sports Mara Lonner’s Leimert Park Landscape, a colorful collage of elements of the neighborhood, including signage, landscaping, and architectural features.
King Estates
At the midway point of the route, King Estates is a neighborhood along the north side of MLK Blvd on both sides of Western Avenue. The stretch of MLK west of Western is predominantly residential, lined with trees and charming 1920s apartment buildings. Despite the neighborhood’s age, the name “King Estates” only dates back to the early 2000s. It comes from the Eighth Council District’s “Naming Neighborhoods Project,” which sought to create distinct identities and foster community pride for many South L.A. neighborhoods that were often lumped together as “South Central” Los Angeles. The name was likely inspired by the presence of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park
3650 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Suite 283, Los Angeles, CA 90008
One block north of the route between bustling Western Ave and quieter Hobart Blvd, this small park provides essential green space and serves as a gathering spot for the community. Within the park are baseball and soccer fields, a tennis and basketball court, exercise equipment, and playground. Next door is the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center and the Exposition Park Branch Library, serving vital community functions for the surrounding neighborhoods.
Expo Park
On the eastern end of the route is Exposition Park, a 160-acre campus of museums, stadiums, recreational facilities, and green space. Originally built as an agricultural fairground in 1872, it was redeveloped as a park in the 1910s, with a lush and fragrant Rose Garden along Exposition Blvd.
In the center of the park, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum serves as home field for USC Trojans football. Built in 1923,the Coliseum is one of the most storied venues in American sports, having hosted the first Super Bowl in 1967 and the Olympics in 1932 and 1984. In 2028, it will become the first stadium in the world to host the modern Olympic Games three times!
And just off the corner of MLK and Figueroa, BMO Stadium plays host to LAFC of Major League Soccer and Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
EXPO Urban Mini Farm
3990 Bill Robertson Ln, Los Angeles, CA 90037
North of MLK Blvd, next door to the Expo Center Senior Center, this urban farm is maintained by Community Services Unlimited (CSU). CSU is a local organization dedicated to providing healthy food, promoting environmental justice, and training South Central L.A. residents on growing and harvesting their own food. The Expo Center urban farm hosts hands-on educational programming in nutrition and gardening for all ages.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
One Lucas Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Opening September 22, 2026, this massive new museum along Vermont Avenue was founded by filmmaker George Lucas. When opened, it will display many forms of visual storytelling, including paintings, photography, sculpture, comic art, and film. Among the highlights will be works by Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, and Jack Kirby, as well as Lucas’ personal collection of pop culture memorabilia and materials from Lucasfilm productions, such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Additionally, there will be a new park and gardens surrounding the museum building, expanding the green space of Expo Park.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90007
The Natural History Museum is the oldest continuously operating museum in LA, dating back to 1913. Inside, you’ll find incredible collections of paleontological, archaeological, natural, and historical objects. Highlights include the spectacular Dinosaur Hall, rare gems, realistic nature dioramas, and the nature lab, with interactive exhibits on local wildlife. A recently opened addition, NHM Commons has free admission and holds two notable objects: “Gnatalie,” a green dinosaur skeleton, and a mural by artist Barbara Carrasco depicting the history of Los Angeles. Temporary exhibits on view include Orcas: Our Shared Future and the seasonal Butterfly Pavilion (additional paid admission required).
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037
This wildly popular museum (in fact, the most-visited museum in all of California) offers free admission and holds many hands-on interactive exhibits geared towards kids. Inside are exhibit halls devoted to learning about biology, the human body, physics, and the natural environment. A massive expansion of the museum is under construction that will hold the Space Shuttle Endeavor and the Science Center’s extensive collection of air and spacecraft; an opening date hasn’t been announced, but exhibit installation is currently underway. Currently, the special exhibition Mummies of the World is on view (paid admission required).
California African American Museum (CAAM)
600 State Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037
East of the Science Center, CAAM is dedicated to the art, history, and culture of African Americans, with an excellent program of changing exhibitions. Among the art on view on CicLAvia Sunday will be Willie Birch: Stories to Tell, a career retrospective of this renowned artist, and The Sound of Gordon Parks, an immersive look at Parks’s musical work. You can also see the exhibition Free and Queer: Black Californian Roots of Gay Liberation, a look at the history of queer Black Californians and their struggles for LGBTQ equality, civil rights, and recognition. Admission to CAAM is free.
A hub button featuring CAAM will be available to purchase on CicLAvia Sunday!
We can't wait to see you all at CicLAvia—Leimert Park meets Expo Park on June 28! Don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list so you don’t miss out on updates and information about future programs.
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Photos courtesy of: John Perry, Adé Neff (Ride On! Bike Shop), Sandra Mejia (The Plant Chica), Metro Art, and Patrick Price (The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)
