ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2023) — A vibrant, 300-foot mural celebrating Anaheim’s Chicano heritage and culture is at Little People’s Park downtown.
The mural, by artist Damin Lujan, features “Little People’s Park” lettering against a vivid floral backdrop, with modern takes on Mexican folk art on both sides.
The artwork was commissioned as part of Anaheim’s celebration of Chicano Heritage Month in August and to bring added life to Little People’s Park, a 1-acre park that has been a big part of Anaheim’s Chicano community since opening in 1970.
Lujan, also known as Zaoone, is a Latino artist from neighboring Santa Ana.
His prior work includes the “Welcome Home” Baker Block mural in Costa Mesa with Obey founder Shepard Fairey, the “Faces of Mankind” mural at Bridges at Kraemer Place homeless shelter in Anaheim, and the “Love Always Wins” mural not far from Little People’s Park in downtown Anaheim.
The Little People’s Park mural will carry on a tradition for the neighborhood.
Across from the park is the iconic “Memories of the Past, Images of the Present” 1978 mural by artist by Emigdio Vasquez on what’s today the Sohan American Market.
Vasquez’s mural is part of our community’s history, created after a 1978 riot when Chicano teens and others from the neighborhood clashed with Anaheim Police.
You can see the mural by visiting Little People’s Park.
Along with the new mural, the park saw updates with new paint on fences, light poles and a gazebo.
The neighborhood park at the corners of Lemon and Elm streets includes a playground, picnic tables, grassy fields and a basketball court.