Santa Monica eyes federal grant to cap I-10 with parks Play

We told you yesterday how the city of Santa Monica plans to use some tax money from Malibu to rebuild its largest park — Memorial Park. The money will come from the Santa Monica College district, which includes property tax from Malibu.

Now comes moves by Santa Monica to build a giant tunnel over the 10 Freeway to build more city parks.

Next week, the city council will vote on whether to accept a $2 million federal grant to investigate "the feasibility and optimal placement of potential cap parks along the I-10 freeway."

The concept is to cap the freeway with a park from 11th Street to 20th Street. That would reconnect the Pico Neighborhood, which was ripped in half 60 years ago when the freeway between Los Angeles and Malibu was constructed in a giant trench.

Santa Monica officials say the construction of the freeway led to the unjust displacement of more than 1,500 residents in what is now the Pico Neighborhood.

"The scars of this displacement persist, giving rise to enduring economic, health, and environmental justice disparities," the report said.

The grant comes 30 years after city officials first explored capping the 10 Freeway with a park.