The Los Angeles River Center and Gardens sits near the confluence of the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco, close to Elysian Park and downtown Los Angeles.
Originally established in 1953 as Lawry's California Center, the site served as the corporate headquarters, a spice factory, and a well-known restaurant complex for Lawry's Foods. Its Mission Revival architecture and lush grounds create a "bucolic hideaway" in the city.
After closing in 1992, the property was saved from demolition through community advocacy, notably by Friends of the Los Angeles River. Today, the Center and Gardens are managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). The MRCA acquires, preserves, protects, restores, and enhances Southern California's natural areas to create an interconnected system of urban and rural river parks, open space, trails, and wildlife habitats that are easily accessible to the public. All permit fees generated from the use of MRCA land directly fund the operation and management of that land, consistent with the MRCA’s mission.