One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: There Are Still Dirt Roads In The Heart Of Los Angeles
Paradise Drive
It's not completely surprising that in a city that has its share of winding roads, there are some that are more rural than others. Snaking through the palm tree-dotted hilltops in the heart of L.A., you can still find dirt roads... which are especially dangerous to navigate on rainy days, considering the lack of guardrails on many of our narrow streets.One Redditor found four dirt roads in Montecito Heights and the surrounding area: 3623 Glenalbyn Drive, 4120 Telluride Street, 4099 Evadale Drive, and 2727 Paradise Drive.
Years ago, KCET revisited the old dirt roads of L.A., noting that the streets which are now paved with asphalt, glitter, child star tears, and broken dreams, used to be made simply of dirt. As was every road in America and beyond. Still, it's pretty striking to see Sunset Boulevard as it was back then.
Sunset & Gower, 1907. (Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection)
According to Gizmodo, "dust was such a problem that street sprinkling enterprises were counted among the city's public utilities"—eventually things smoothed over, though "Angelenos would have to wait until 1887 for the city's first paved streets: Main, Spring, and Fort (now Broadway). Macadam paving [with a cementing agent and small stones], followed by concrete and asphalt surfaces, eventually helped Los Angeles' roads shake their rustic character." But as you can see, some never did.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
