Park

The nation’s priorities are now crystal clear.

We are adding ICE and Border Patrol agents, activating troops and invading American neighborhoods, including L.A.’s MacArthur Park on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, we are getting rid of medical researchers and weather forecasters, even as extreme and deadly weather events become more common.

Steve Lopez

Steve Lopez is a California native who has been a Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist.

You would think — based on the priorities in President Trump’s budget, tax and policy bill approved last week — that immigration is the greatest threat to our health and security.

It’s not.

But billions of dollars have been added for border and ICE agents while billions more have been trimmed from medical, climate and weather-related resources.

On Monday morning, federal agents on horseback and in armored vehicles descended on MacArthur Park in a show of force. Children playing in the park were ushered to safer ground, Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference.

“Frankly it is outrageous and un-American that we have federal armed vehicles in our parks when nothing is going on in our parks,” Bass said, adding that she didn’t know if anyone was even detained.

“It’s a political agenda of provoking fear and terror,” she said.

The event “looked like a staging for a TikTok video,” said City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

MacArthur Park has a sizable undocumented immigrant population, and a lot of big problems to tackle — homelessness, a wide-open drug trade and gang activity. On some days areas of the park were unusable for families. First responders rolled out on overdose calls, addicts took over an alley, and merchants struggled to stay open amid all the mayhem.

In December, people sit at the corner of Alvarado Street and Wilshire Boulevard, an area known for illegal drug use in the Westlake neighborhood.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

As I found last year over the course of several months on the ground, local officials waited too long and moved too slowly in response to the long-festering crisis.

But a silly military parade isn’t going to help, unless they actually were going after undocumented drug lords — but there was no immediate evidence of that.

If the federal government wanted to help, L.A. could use more support for housing, drug interdiction and treatment. It could use a more stable and equitable economy that’s not undermined by tariff uncertainties and the president’s taunts of trading partners.

As we know in California, countless industries rely on undocumented laborers. It’s an open secret, and has been for decades, not just in the Golden State but across the nation, and yet Washington has been unable to put together a sensible immigration reform package over the years.

Congress got close last fall, but do I need to remind you what happened?

That’s right. Trump threatened lackey GOP Congressman, ordering the spineless ninnies to pull their support.

Every time I see a helicopter now in L.A. — and as we know, they’re like mosquitoes up there — I wonder if Trump has sent in the Air Force, with bombers coming in behind them.

My colleague Rachel Uranga recently reported that “ICE has not released data on criminal records of detainees booked into its custody.” But nonpublic data from the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, “showed about 9 out of 10 had never been convicted of a violent or property crime, and 30% have no criminal record. The most frequent crimes are immigration and traffic offenses.”

It’s nothing to warrant the terrorizing of neighborhoods and communities, nothing to warrant armed, masked agents of unknown identities and agencies roaming our streets and nabbing workers at car washes, Home Depots and restaurants.

Federal immigration agents near MacArthur Park in the Westlake area on Monday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

It’s almost as terrifying as several other real and existential threats:

An anti-vax crackpot is in charge of the nation’s healthcare and medical research system.

Trump’s Big Bonehead Bill calls for an $18-billion cut for the National Institutes of Health.

Some of the leading researchers in medicine and science are leaving the country in a trend that could end up being a catastrophic brain drain.

I got an email the other day from the Social Security Administration informing me the “(SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill.” I thought it was a joke at first — a satirical take on the rise of an authoritarian regime.

But it was real, and so are the cuts to the National Weather Service, to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Meteorologists say extreme weather events like the rainstorms that led to a river surge and killed dozens of children and adults in Texas’ Hill Country over the holiday weekend are going to become more common.

Florida had a record-tying number of hurricanes in 2024 with 11 of them, and $130 billion in damage.

Wildfires destroyed thousands of homes in Southern California last year and are becoming ever-more common around the world.

Temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea smashed records for June, and scientists are warning of dire impacts on sea life and food chains.

To the president and his minions, the crisis is overblown.

It’s fake news.

And the federal government can’t be distracted from its core mission.

The week is young, and there’s no telling which L.A. neighborhood will be invaded next.

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Hossoland has opened on the North Coast of Poland. Visitors there can explore four fantastical realms within Hossoland: the Dragon Valley of the Mines, the Land of the Vikings, the Kingdom of Baltambrya, and Mermaid City

Europe’s theme park scene has been transformed with the opening of Hossoland, an awe-inspiring new park that rivals Disneyland Paris.

Hossoland was due to open on May 31, promising a spellbinding experience on Poland’s northern coast. After a four-week delay, the doors have now swung open. The park is centered around a lighthouse, and the fairytale adventure land is inspired by enchanting Baltic folklore and legends.

Visitors can explore four fantastical realms within Hossoland: the Dragon Valley of the Mines, the Land of the Vikings, the Kingdom of Baltambrya, and Mermaid City. Plans for the park were unveiled in 2017, with anticipating growing ahead of its launch since then.

Spanning an impressive 400,000 square metres, Hossoland will boast an array of 50 thrilling rides when it is fully operating. Right now it has 24, including The GhostRider, a stunning steel coaster that towers at 53 metres high, sending riders hurtling at an electrifying speed of 72 mph.

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In a chat with Planet Attractions, Hosso Group’s vice president, Karen Hovsepyan, said: “The location not only makes it a standout attraction within Poland but also a key destination for residents of nearby Berlin, promising to boost regional tourism significantly.”

With 20 food and beverage outlets, Hossoland caters to all taste buds. The Hosso Group has ambitious plans for future expansion, envisioning a waterpark and further themed areas post-launch.

Ahead of that expansion, some have criticised the scope of the theme park. While Poland’s biggest theme park, Energylandia, has 18 rollercoasters, Hossoland currently has four. One critic felt that this was too few, and those on offer too gentle.

“But do you plan something more hardcore for adults? Me and my 15-year-old son are waiting impatiently,” they wrote. Some have suggested that the park is a little pricey. Currently, it costs £34 for adult entry and £30 for children.

On its first day open, a light rain fell on those who visited. Among them was a family of four from Silesia. Marlena, the mum, Szczecin that the park was perfect for families and younger kids. ” The entire park has a seaside feel. There are Vikings, mermaids, water, boats,” she added.

For theme park enthusiasts in the UK keen to explore Hossoland, the closest airport is Szczecin. Direct flights are offered by Ryanair from Liverpool and London, making the park roughly a one-hour drive from the airport or under a three-hour trek from Berlin.

Yet Hossoland is not the sole newcomer aiming to rival Disneyland Paris come 2025. Another upcoming contender is Bommelwerald, an indoor amusement park inspired by the Dutch comic series featuring Tom Poes and Oliver B. Bommel by artist Marten Toonderand.

Set to inaugurate later this year, Bommelwerald promises 18 attractions sprawled over a 9,000 sqm expanse, including a pint-sized flume ride and a tower for climbing. A castle-themed entrance leads into various imaginatively themed zones like the Dark Tree Forest and an area dedicated to inventors.

Located in Rust, southwestern Germany, between Freiburg and Strasbourg, France, Europa Park is the largest theme park in Europe. It is also the second most visited resort in Europe, after Disneyland Paris.

The resort in Bedfordshire is set to open in 2031 following an agreement brokered between the American company, the Government and the local council

The hotly anticipated Universal theme park in Bedfordshire will feature four lands and the tallest ride in Europe, it has emerged.

More and more details are surfacing about the movie-inspired theme park, which is due to open in 2031 and will be the first Universal park in Europe. When the plans were first confirmed in April this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer jubilantly proclaimed: “It’s going to put Bedford on the map for millions of people – film lovers, people coming here for fun, people building their careers here.”

Now, planning documents related to the project reveal that the theme park will have four zones: the Core Zone, Lake Zone, West Gateway Zone, and the East Gateway Zone.

The Core Zone is tipped to include the main theme park and a 500-room hotel. The Lake Zone will include a new wetland area and a 2,000-room business hotel, while the East Gateway Zone, is expected to adjoin the planned new Wixams Rail Station. The West Gateway Zone is due to feature an entertainment complex, restaurants, petrol station.

READ MORE: Full list of Europe hotspots that don’t want Brit tourists to visit this summer

The plans describe the theme park as providing guests with the opportunity to “experience blockbuster attractions, adrenaline-pumping coasters, and mind-blowing spectaculars.”

It has been rumoured that inspiration for parts of the park could come from Minions, Jaws, and Jurassic Park. However, this has not yet been officially confirmed. Back in April, a source close to the Universal UK project told the BBC that James Bond, Paddington, and The Lord of the Rings are among the brands that could appear at the park. Rides and attractions related to Harry Potter are not expected to be included.

Other Universal theme parks feature a variety of themed lands, including: Hollywood, Minion Land, New York, San Francisco, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, World Expo, Springfield, and DreamWorks Land.

Planning documents unveiled this month also show that the UK park could have some of the tallest rides in Europe. The American film production and distribution company is considering building structures reaching up to 377 ft (115 m), including rides.

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“The reason for proposing structures up to this maximum height is to allow the proposed theme park to compete with other attractions in Europe,” the proposal said.

“Although the Universal Orlando Resort does not currently have attractions up to this height, taller attractions are more common in Europe, where rides need to be taller to create the experience, as space is more constrained.”

Currently, Thorpe Park’s Hyperia is the tallest and fastest theme park ride in Britain. It sends thrill-seekers up to 72 m and reaches speeds of 80 mph. Red Force, a 367-foot (112 m) rollercoaster at PortAventura World in Spain, is currently the tallest in Europe.

The majority of the park’s structures will be between 20 and 30 m tall. “Building attractions that are higher, rather than over greater areas, also makes the best use of land, which is in line with planning policy,” they added.

Sir Keir lauded the landmark Universal deal as a promise of “growth, jobs and of course joy to Britain.” By 2055, Universal envisions the 476-acre site near Bedford contributing nearly £50 billion to the economy, with plans for a 500-room hotel and a comprehensive retail and entertainment complex accompanying the theme park.

A huge theme park that once attracted half a million visitors in a single year has been left to rot for over a decade. However, it could soon be transformed into something completely different

A creepy, abandoned theme park that has been left to rot for 13 years could finally be handed a fresh breath of life.

Constructed back in 1983, and themed around the legends of King Arthur, the Magical Kingdom of Camelot attracted a staggering 500,000 annual visitors back in its heyday. Renowned for its grand white castle entrance, the theme park – which went through several ownerships – boasted several scream-inducing rides and roller coasters including Whirlwind and Excalibur.

The Knightmare roller coaster, which came to the park towards the end of 2006, is believed to have cost £3 million to build – and quickly became one of the most beloved attractions at the park. However, as the years went on – Camelot’s popularity started to plummet.

READ MORE: Huge abandoned UK underground station frozen in time walked over by millions

By 2005, the theme park, located in Chorley, Lancashire, was only attracting around 336,000 annual visitors – and in 2012, it closed to the public for good. Experts over at Together Money, who offer mortgage and loan products, valued Camelot Theme Park – which sits on some 140 acres – at a whopping £800 million.

It’s therefore no surprise the abandoned site has attracted the attention of property developers, namely Story Homes who want to build a huge housing estate on the land. The company applied to bulldoze the theme park and build similar schemes back in 2017 and 2019, but both applications were refused over objections on the use of greenbelt land.

However, developers have submitted a fresh application to Chorley Council outlining their plans to construct a mega residential development. This consists of up to 350 homes (50 per cent of which would be classed as affordable), a 186.9 square metre community hub, along with ‘associated habitat creation, landscaping, open space, parking, footpaths, cycleways, drainage and other infrastructure’.

“The vision for the site is to deliver a development that provides an exceptional quality of place, underpinned by the highest standards of design and sensitive placemaking,” the supporting planning application statement reads. “The proposed development will deliver the homes that people need, responding to the acute housing and affordability crisis in the Borough by delivering the type, tenure and quality of market and affordable housing, alongside community infrastructure, that will create and support a new community.

“The vision for the site is supported by a generous landscape led masterplan that respects the wider Green Belt and woodland context and provides new green spaces, green infrastructure and habitats as a fundamental element of a new landscape framework.”

At the time of writing, the planning application has received a dozen public comments – with the overwhelming majority slamming the proposals. One furious resident said it would ‘destroy’ the local villages, adding: “There’s absolutely no benefit to this except a money grab for a small group of people. This needs rejecting permanently what an absolute disgrace.”

They argued such construction would ‘destroy wildlife, overload services, increase traffic and lower village house prices’. Another agreed, scathing: “I formally object to the proposed development of 350 houses on the grounds of its significant and detrimental impact on the local area. The development would dramatically increase vehicle traffic on narrow, rural roads that aren’t designed to accommodate such volumes. This would lead to a rise in noise pollution and pose safety risks to pedestrians, cyclists, and existing residents.”

Others argued the development would put too much constraint on local amenities and lead to overcrowding – suggesting the site should be turned into a leisure development instead. However, not everybody seemed to disagree with the application.

One person commented: “There are too many keyboard warriors who don’t know the facts and basically don’t want any more housing in the area. As long as the development is sympathetic to the local nature, I think it is an ideal use of a brownfield site.”

First Homes has published noise impact, air quality, transport, and preliminary roost assessments – along with documents detailing its ecological appraisal. All of these can be viewed here.

The application was validated on Friday, June 20, 2025, and is currently awaiting decision.

Should the development go ahead? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

The historic Griffith Park Pool, built in 1927 and once the largest aquatic facility in Los Angeles, has been dry since 2020. Now, as summer heats up, residents are learning that it won’t be filled again.

Instead, the city is laying plans for a $28-million project to demolish it and build two smaller new pools and a splash pad in its place while reconstructing the two-story pool house next door. City officials say they hope to begin the project in summer 2026 and complete it in January 2028.

But for now, the city’s Recreation and Parks Department website simply lists the pool as “closed until further notice.” A Bureau of Engineering spokesperson said the city has not picked a builder yet.

The Griffith Park Pool, closed in 2020, was still dry on July 1.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The new plan marks a sharp turn for a site that was once scheduled for reopening in June 2022. In the run-up to that date, the Eastsider news site first reported, city workers found that the pool had a cracked foundation, one too severe to repair.

Recreation and Parks Department spokeswoman Rose Watson said department Assistant General Manager Cathie Santo Domingo and a maintenance team discovered the cracks in the pool. “Every time they would fill it up, it wouldn’t retain the water,” Watson said.

During the closure, neighbors have complained and signed a petition, lamenting that working-class families in Los Feliz, Atwater, Silver Lake and East Hollywood have long depended on that public pool for summer relief.

“I always wondered what was happening with that. I’ve never seen water in it,” said Christine Perez of Los Feliz, who was at a playground near the pool Monday with her 22-month-old son, Miles. “I was literally thinking last week that it would be great if there was a splash pad down here.”

“Kids need a place to go and a place to learn how to swim,” said Marian Dodge, board secretary and past president of the Friends of Griffith Park. She said the group is “actually thrilled that they’re finally going to go ahead and make the necessary repairs. … We have been assured that it is fully funded.”

A city Bureau of Engineering report says the new project will include “demolition and reconstruction,” replacing the old pool with a new competition pool measuring 25 yards by 50 meters (up to 12.5 feet deep) and a “training pool” splash pad that is 25 yards by 25 meters (up to 5 feet deep), along with reconstruction and rehabilitation of the site’s two-story Spanish-style pool house and improvements to changing and shower areas and ADA accessibility.

The new pools are intended to handle year-round use, incorporating electric pool heaters, salt water and UV light water treatment.

Long known as the Municipal Plunge, the pool at Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard measures about 225 feet by 48 feet. It was the city’s largest aquatic facility until the arrival of Hansen Dam Recreation Area, built in 1940 in the Lake View Terrace area of the San Fernando Valley.

“You know the L.A. River runs right behind the pool?” said Dodge. “The water level behind the pool is so high, they were unable to concrete the river there.” As a result, when the pool was built, it “was described as a concrete boat floating on top of this sand and mud. It was kind of risky at the beginning, but they did it.”

At one point, the pool’s capacity was put at 562 people.

“They would have canoeing lessons and water parades,” Dodge said.

Now neighbored by tennis courts, a playground, a soccer field and Los Feliz Nursery School, the pool was open until late March of 2020, when the city shut multiple recreation facilities in the early days of the pandemic. It lies within City Council District 4, represented by Nithya Raman.

On May 21, the city Board of Public Works authorized hiring Perkins Eastman to do $2.4 million in architectural design and engineering work on the pools and bathhouse.

The idea of progress on the pool is comforting, Dodge said, given the idle state of the park’s pony rides and merry-go-round, both closed since 2022 for various reasons. The L.A. Zoo, also in Griffith Park, remains open but mired in a legal battle over money between the city and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn.

In all, the city operates 57 pools (28 seasonal, 26 year-round and three camp pools) and eight splash pads. As of July 2, eight of the pools were closed.

The nearest city-run pools to Griffith Park are Echo Park, Hollywood and Glassell Park. Griffith Park also includes pools at Camp Hollywoodland and Griffith Park Boys Camp.

The family of a seven-year-old girl who died after a tree collapsed on her in a park has described her as “a light in our lives”.

Leonna Ruka, from Dagenham in east London, was visiting Southend-on-Sea with family.

Emergency services were called to Chalkwell Park shortly before 15:00 BST on Saturday, but Leonna died in hospital.

A six-year-old girl, who was also under the tree and is Leonna’s cousin, remains critically ill in hospital.

In a statement Leonna’s family said: “It is with broken hearts and unimaginable pain that we share the devastating loss of our beloved daughter Leonna – our beautiful, bright, and loving little girl, taken from us far too soon.

“Leonna was more than just a child – she was a light in our lives and in the lives of everyone who had the joy of meeting her.

“She was funny, kind, and full of life – a shining star who brought happiness wherever she went.

“From the moment she walked into a room, she would light it up.

“She was the kind of girl who gave love without asking for anything in return.

“She was perfect – too perfect for a world that can be so cruel and unfair.”

We checked in to this popular central London hotel to see why it’s so popular – with celebrities and ‘regular’ travellers alike – and discovered spacious rooms and amazing views

First impressions when you enter London Hilton on Park Lane, on the edge of Hyde Park, are certainly grand ones, with a glitzy lobby filled with velvet sofas and human-sized bouquets of fresh flowers to greet you.

Despite this clearly being a big corporate hotel (there was at least one conference going on when we stayed), the service is super friendly and personal, from the welcome at reception to the cute note from housekeeping on our pillow with the turn down. Lots of guests were obviously repeat visitors, and staff greeted them – and first-timers like us – like old friends. We’re told Academy Award-winning actor Susan Sarandon recently stayed here, as did Maura Higgins to get ready before this year’s TV BAFTAs.

READ MORE: ‘I found a stylish five-star London hotel next to The Ritz but a fraction of the price’

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The rooms at London Hilton on Park Lane

We were lucky enough to be put in the recently refurbished Executive Park Lane Suite, a huge space on the 25th floor featuring a lounge area, separate bedroom and dressing room, and incredible views out over Hyde Park, with the Serpentine twinkling in the middle. We were particularly taken by the window seat and super-comfy bed, and the large marble bathroom with two sinks, separate bath and shower, and Molton Brown toiletries. If your budget stretches to it, it’s a real luxury to have so much space in the city centre, and feels like London’s version of a luxury apartment in New York City, overlooking Central Park.

One big perk for those staying in an Executive Room or any of the 56 suites is access to the hotel’s Executive Lounge, where breakfast is served in the mornings, and drinks and snacks between 5pm-7pm in the evenings – and there’s a wide selection, with no limits on the wines, beers, soft drinks and snacks. You could basically dine out here if you so wished.

The food atLondon Hilton on Park Lane

Instead, however, we headed downstairs for dinner at the hotel’s Park Corner Brasserie, a modern British eatery serving elevated classics. Although not a huge number of options for vegetarians, we loved our cabbage and sweetcorn frittata, and there were loads of grill dishes to choose from. Our personal highlight came at the end of the meal with a trio of creme brulées, each one more delicious than the last.

How much does it cost to stay atLondon Hilton on Park Lane?

Rooms at London Hilton on Park Lane start from £459 for a Twin Guest Room.

For a stay that costs a little less, take a look at Citizen M’s four London hotels, which start from £208.80 per night, or browse hundreds of other options on Booking.com.

Antler Discovery backpack

Durable, lightweight and surprisingly spacious, this combines the ease of carrying of a backpack with the capacity of a cabin case.

It’s a favourite with our editorial commercial content director Michelle Darlow, who packed it on a recent Ryanair flight to Italy to save money on luggage fees.

Kipling Art M multi-use medium tote with trolley sleeve

£107

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Kipling

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Another tested-and-tested favourite with our shopping team, this is a good choice if you’re after something a bit softer and less structured. It’s available in a huge number of colours and a handy trolley sleeve if you are travelling with a larger case.

Amazon underseat foldable travel duffel bag

£15.99

£9.99

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For value, nothing much beats this duffle bag from Amazon, which also looks smart and timeless. Available in 28 colours, it measures 40 x 19 x 25cm and fits perfectly under the plane seats, it complies with Ryanair’s strict travel luggage rules which allows you to take a free cabin bag measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm.

An Army veteran who grew up in Van Nuys and was awarded a Purple Heart self-deported to South Korea this week as he was threatened with being detained and deported by federal immigration forces.

On Monday, veteran Sae Joon Park, who legally immigrated from South Korea when he was seven years old, grew up in Koreatown and the San Fernando Valley and held a green card, flew back to his homeland under threat of deportation at the age of 55. He said he is being forced to leave because of drug convictions nearly two decades ago that he said were a response to the PTSD he suffered after being shot during military action in Panama.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m still in disbelief that this has actually happened,” Park said in a phone interview from Incheon early Wednesday morning. “I know I made my mistakes … but it’s not like I was a violent criminal. It’s not like I’m going around robbing people at gunpoint or hurting anyone. It was self-induced because of the problems I had.”

Sae Joon Park, an Army veteran with a Purple Heart.

(From Sae Joon Park)

Asked to comment on Park, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Park has an “extensive criminal history” and has been given a final removal order, with the option to self-deport.

Park said he suffered from PTSD and addiction in the aftermath of being wounded when he was part of the U.S. forces that invaded Panama in 1989 to depose the nation’s de facto leader, Gen. Manuel Noriega.

But now Park, a legal immigrant, is targeted by federal authorities in President Trump’s recent immigration raids that have prompted widespread protests in Los Angeles and across the nation. Federal authorities have arrested more than 1,600 immigrants for deportation in Southern California between June 6 and 22, according to DHS.

A noncitizen is eligible for naturalization if they served honorably in the U.S. military for at least a year. Park served less than a year before he was wounded and honorably discharged.

Since 2002, over 158,000 immigrant service members have become U.S. citizens.

As of 2021, the Department of Veteran Affairs and DHS are responsible for tracking deported veterans to make sure they still have access to VA benefits.

Park’s parents divorced when he was a toddler, and his mother immigrated from South Korea to the United States. He followed her a year later. They first lived in Koreatown, moved to Panorama City and then Van Nuys. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks in 1988.

Struggling at first to learn English and acclimate with his classmates, he eventually became part of the Southern California skateboarding and surfing scene of the 1980s, which is when television editor Josh Belson met him. They have been close friends ever since.

“He’s always got a smile, a very kind of vivacious energy about him,” said Belson, who attended a nearby high school when they met. “He was the kind of person you wanted to be around.”

After graduating, Park said he wasn’t ready to attend college, so he joined the military.

“The Army provided not only turning me into a man, but also providing me with the GI Bill, so you can go to college later, and they’ll pay for it. And the fact that I did believe in the country, the United States,” he said. “So I felt like I was doing something honorable. I was very proud when I joined the military.”

Park’s platoon was deployed to Panama in late 1989, where he said they experienced a firefight the first night there. The following day, he said he was carrying an M-16 when they raided the house of one of the “witches” Noriega allegedly followed. He said they saw a voodoo worship room with body parts and a cross painted in blood on the floor.

While there, he heard gunfire from the backyard and returned fire. He was shot twice, in his spine and lower left back. The bullet to his spine was partially deflected by his dog tag, which Park believes is the reason he wasn’t paralyzed. A military ambulance was delayed because of the firefight, but a Vietnam veteran who lived nearby rescued him, Park said.

“I just remember I’m just lying in my own pool of blood and just leaking out badly. So he actually went home, got his pickup truck, put me in the back of his pickup truck with two soldiers, and drove me to the hospital,” Park said.

He was then evacuated to an Army hospital in San Antonio. A four-star general awarded him a Purple Heart at his bedside. Then-President George W. Bush visited wounded soldiers there.

Park spent about two weeks there, and then went home for a month or so, until he could walk. His experience resulted in mental issues he didn’t recognize, he said.

“My biggest issue at the time, more than my injuries, was — I didn’t know what it was at the time, nobody did, because there was no such thing as PTSD at the time,” he said. Eventually, “I realized I was suffering from PTSD badly, nightmares every night, severe. I couldn’t hear loud noises, and at that time in L.A., you would hear gunshots every night you left the house, so I was paranoid at all times. And being a man and being a tough guy, I couldn’t share this with anyone.”

Park started self-medicating with marijuana, which he said helped him sleep. But he started doing harder drugs, eventually crack cocaine. He moved to Hawaii after his mother and stepfather’s L.A. store burned during the 1992 riots, and married. After Park and his wife separated, he moved to New York City, where his addiction worsened.

“It got really bad. It just got out of control — every day, every night, all day — just smoking, everything,” Park said.

One night, in the late 2000s, he was meeting his drug dealer at a Taco Bell in Queens when police surrounded his car, and the dealer fled while leaving a large quantity of crack in his glove compartment, Park said.

A judge sent Park to rehab twice, but he said he was not ready to get sober.

“I just couldn’t. I was an addict. It was so hard for me to stay clean. I’d be good for 30 days and relapse,” he said. “I’d be good for 20 days and relapse. It was such a struggle. Finally, the judge told me, ‘Mr. Park, the next time you come into my courtroom with the dirty urine, you’re gonna go to prison.’ So I got scared.”

So Park didn’t return to court, drove to Los Angeles and then returned to Hawaii, skipping bail, which is an aggravated felony.

“I did not know at the time jumping bail was an aggravated felony charge, and combined with my drug use, that’s deportable for someone like me with my green card,” he said.

U.S. Marshals were sent looking for Park, and he said once he heard about this, he turned himself in in August 2009, because he didn’t want to be arrested in front of his two children.

He served two years in prison and said immigration officials detained him for six months after he was released as he fought deportation orders. He was eventually released under “deferred action,” an act of prosecutorial discretion by DHS to put off deportation.

Every year since, Park was required to check in with federal officials and show that he was employed and sober. Meanwhile, he had sole custody of his two children, who are now 28 and 25. He was also caring for his 85-year-old mother, who is in the early stages of dementia.

During his most recent check-in, Park was about to be handcuffed and detained, but immigration agents placed an ankle monitor on him and gave him three weeks to get his affairs in order and self-deport. He is not allowed to return to the United States for 10 years. He worries he will miss his mother’s passing and his daughter’s wedding.

“That’s the biggest part. But … it could be a lot worse too. I look at it that way also,” Park said. “So I’m grateful I made it out of the United States, I guess, without getting detained.”

“I always just assumed a green card, legal residency, is just like having citizenship,” he added. “I just never felt like I had to go get citizenship. And that’s just being honest. As a kid growing up in the United States, I’ve always just thought, hey, I’m a green card holder, a legal resident, I’m just like a citizen.”

His condition has spiraled since then.

“Alright. I’m losing it. Can’t stop crying. I think PTSD kicking in strong,” Park texted Belson on Thursday. “Just want to get back to my family and take care of my mother … I’m a mess.”

Times staff writer Nathan Solis contributed to this report.

Playland Fun Park in Worcestershire has been crowned the most affordable theme park for kids in the UK, with the admission costing absolutely nothing

A lesser-known amusement park has been hailed as the most cost-effective for kids in the UK.

Playland Fun Park, nestled in Worcestershire, offers free entry, making it a wallet-friendly choice for families planning a day trip. Instead of a flat entrance fee, families buy ‘tokens’ at the park to pay for individual rides.

Most attractions at the park cost around £1, allowing children to pick and choose their preferred activities rather than paying a lump sum for access to rides they may not use or enjoy.

The park boasts a variety of attractions, including a pirate ship ride, go-karts, crazy golf, and more, ensuring there’s plenty to keep the little ones entertained. Visitors can also embark on a river steamer ride, unveiling the hidden gems of Stourport-on-Severn from the water.

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Recent additions to the park include Dino Tours, where you can steer your own explorer jeep through a dinosaur-themed track, and a farmyard area featuring ride-on animals. For those who fancy taking the helm, families can rent one of the park’s self-drive boats for a leisurely cruise along the River Severn.

Situated in a scenic canal area, the park is conveniently located near another attraction, Treasure Island – a fairground packed with rides suitable for slightly older children – just across the road.

After a day of mini golf and riverside relaxation, you could either venture further into Stourport to The Port House pub or take a brief stroll across the Stourport Bridge to The Old Beams 15th Century Inn. The Old Beams is renowned for its comforting dishes, including a homemade Sunday roast, and offers a selection of local beers, afternoon tea, and is dog-friendly.

It even provides a dog station, complete with water and biscuits for your canine companions.

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Alternatively, The Port House, located adjacent to the Amusement Park and bridge in Stourport-On-Severn, boasts award-winning ales, a carefully selected wine list, and meals inspired by the local area. The pub also features live music and welcomes dogs, making it the perfect spot to unwind after a day at the amusement park.

Playland Fun Park operates from March to October, on weekends and during school holidays.

The park was put in the top spot by Outdoor Toys, which claimed that Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells, Skegness, was the second most affordable theme park for children in the UK, with tickets priced at £15.99. Visitors can enjoy a mini roller coaster, a delightful carousel, and more.

Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, is the top theme park for toddlers, earning an impressive score of 8.17/10. The park features 38 attractions, including the Crooked House, Kiddi Coaster and train rides. What’s more, entry to Adventure Island for children is completely free, operating on a pay as you play basis.

A travel enthusiast shared a clip from her trip to a theme park which has twice been named the best in the world, and it’s all down to one surprising difference

If you are looking for an alternative holiday spot this summer, one woman has just the recommendation. Despite being named ‘best theme park in the world’ twice, Puy du Fou in the Pays de la Loire region of France remains a hidden gem to many.

Travel expert Bonnie Rakhit posted a clip on TikTok showcasing her visit to what she claims is the country’s “best kept secret.” “It’s without doubt the most magical theme park I have ever visited,” she exclaimed. Just an hour’s drive from Nantes, Bonnie suggests the site is the perfect quick getaway from the UK. So what makes this place so unique?

“There are no rides here,” says Bonnie. “Instead you go on a time-travelling adventure from Roman gladiators to Viking raids, and the legend of King Arthur to the splendour of the Palace of Versailles across 50 hectares of breathtaking scenery.”

Bonnie also notes that the park is home to 20 internationally acclaimed shows, providing an all-encompassing experience for the entire family.

Each spectacle has been translated into English, with scripts accessible through the park’s mobile app.

“The magic doesn’t stop at night,” Bonnie added. “We stayed at Le Grand Siecle – a hotel inspired by Louis XIV’s Court. There’s also a medieval village, a Camelot-style tented camp, an ancient Roman town and a castle called the Citadel.”

Concluding her review, Bonnie said Puy Du Fou plays host to over 2.8million visitors annually. “It’s easy to see why,” she said.

“It’s inspiring and completely unique – this isn’t just a theme park, it’s a journey through time. Add it to your bucket list.”

Engaging with her post on TikTok, one fan raved: “I have been a few times and it is insane, seriously amazing. The Coliseum is crazy!”

Another person remarked: “I love Puy de Fou, used to live in Nantes and went many times. The evening shows are amazing! Planet Sauvage is also fab and the best safari park I have ever seen.”

Whilst a third praised: “This is genuinely the best park I have ever been to! So incredible I would say Europa Park is good for rollercoasters (although i don’t think it’s the best one in Europe but it’s nice) but Puy Du Fou is amazing for story telling! Like incredibly impressive!”.

According to the English language section of the Puy de Fou official website, prices for an overnight stay start from £63.38 per person. This not only includes entry to the park and all its spectacles but also an overnight hotel stay complete with breakfast (at either an on-site hotel or in partnership accommodations near Puy du Fou) and complimentary translation services for all attractions.

For those looking to visit the park alone, tickets are available for one, two, or three-day adventures, kicking off at a modest £31.69 per person.

The site further states: “The Puy du Fou experience is designed for all ages to enjoy. Children and parents alike will be captivated all the way through as the shows are short and feature many amazing effects.

“The few scenes that may alarm very young children due to their spectacular realism are indicated by a symbol in the mobile app and Visitor Guide.”

Mirapolis was created to rival Disneyland Paris when it opened in 1987, but within four years, the ambitious project became one of the country’s most infamous failures as it now lies abandoned

Once heralded as France’s answer to Disneyland Paris, designed to bring French literature to life, Mirapolis now stands as a ghostly and desolate landmark.

Initially celebrated as “France’s first large amusement park,” the site is now eerily deserted. Strategically located less than an hour from Disneyland Paris, Mirapolis opened its doors in 1987 with high hopes of immersing visitors in the wonders of French literary classics.

However, the lofty dreams were short-lived, as within a mere four years, this bold venture turned into one of France’s most notorious flops.

Created by architect Anne Fourcade, Mirapolis was intended as a cultural foil to Disneyland, marrying historical literature with thrill-seeking. Backed financially by Saudi businessman Ghaith Pharaon, the whopping construction cost was $600 million – a figure that would translate to around £1.3 billion today considering inflation, the Express reports.

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Even Jacques Chirac, then Prime Minister of France, graced the park’s opening and kicked off the excitement surrounding its 29 attractions. According to AD magazine, the new amusement park had high hopes of welcoming as many as 600,000 tourists a year.

Yet despite the buzz, problems loomed from day one – relentless rainfall marred its debut season, leading to frequent closures of its open-air rides.

Mirapolis did find a silver lining in its theatre, which hosted a popular children’s musical with grand puppetry, but insufficient foot traffic persisted. Seemingly lacklustre market research and overzealous financial predictions meant that the park was destined for closure, sealing its fate in 1991 without ever turning a profit.

It is said to have been sensationally labelled one of the biggest financial failures in France.

By 1993, the demolition process had started, with most of its structures being removed or sold off. The park’s iconic centrepiece, a towering statue of Gargantua from French folklore, stood firm against dismantling until 1995, when its head was finally destroyed with dynamite.

Nowadays, all that’s left of Mirapolis is some entrance fences, pathways leading to former attractions and a park featuring a small lake. Over time, various plans to breathe new life into the site have been proposed and then abandoned.

Many residents of France still remember the amusement park today, with various comments emerging on X, formerly Twitter, over the years. One former visitor wrote: “This is the France we love”, while a second added: “With Gargantua as the figurehead. I went there once with my school. It was pretty awesome. And the ruins remained for years.”

A third noted: “I remember this park offering wins on TV shows like The Price Is Right and others. It was a dream come true…” Another penned: “Apparently the characters scared children and that’s understandable.”

In response, someone added: “It was awesome, I went mainly for the ‘gravitron.’ I don’t remember being scared of the characters, but they probably terrified others.”

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The high-speed La Jefa is described as a ‘towering centrepiece’ for families to ‘slip, slide and splash’ across the water at the aqua par

An aqua park known for its gleaming turquoise lake, is upping the ante with its latest addition described as the “ultimate summer slide experience”.

The new high-speed attraction, La Jefa, stands as a monumental feature at St Andrews Lakes in Halling, beckoning families to “slip, slide and splash” in the sun.

St Andrews boasts a pristine 70-acre lake filled with spring water and is continuously expanding with various floating play areas, slides, jump points and splash zones, in scenes that wouldn’t be out of place on the Med.

La Jefa, translating to ‘the female boss’ in Spanish, is the latest thrilling complement to the park’s highly popular 20ft slide, El Jefe – ‘the male boss’.

St Andrews Lakes’ operations director Stuart Bishop said: “La Jefa is the perfect next step for our Aqua Park. Guests already loved El Jefe, but we wanted to bring something new, something a bit different and something just as fun. We can’t wait to see families and friends tackle it this summer,”

In addition to the aquatic thrills, the attraction close to Rochester also features a private sandy beach area, paddleboarding, kayaking, zip wiring, and axe throwing activities, reports Kent Live.

Not to mention wall climbing, archery, sailing courses, paddleboard classes and children’s activity days throughout the school holidays.

The old quarry has been turned into a stunning blue lake reserve, offering fun for everyone on water and land. And if you want to relax, the wellness space boasts wood-fired lakeside saunas, steaming hot tubs and even a cold plunge lagoon, not to mention a chill-out zone with snug chairs and a fireside to cosy up to.

Aqua park tickets are £25 person for a 50-minute session and family deals and concessions are available. Your ticket covers buoyancy aids, vigilant lifeguards and an essential safety rundown before making waves.

Information on bookings, activities needing inductions and session timings is available on the website. There are also all-day charges for the beach.

Nestled in Halling, a quaint village perched in the Medway area snug between Cuxton and Snodland and within a stone’s throw from Rochester, St Andrews Lakes is where you’ll find the paradise pit. The lake gets its clear blue hue from the suspended chalk particles that reflect the light.

St Andrew’s says the lake’s waters gush from a spring, making them “incredibly clean”.

Guests will be asked to pick a side at Six Flags Magic Mountain’s “DC Heroes and Villains” fest.

(Six Flags Magic Mountain)

The Valencia coaster park this summer is leaning into superhero properties. The likes of Batman, Superman, Catwoman, the Joker and more are taking part in an evening show that marries dance parties, stunt shows and audience participation. Its “DC Heroes and Villains Fest” runs weekends throughout the summer beginning June 20, with festivities starting at 5 p.m.

There’s a plot each night, and it centers on villains trying to spoil a statue dedication to Batman. Audiences are said to be able to align with heroes or villains to see who has control of Gotham City each evening. Expect a stunt show finish and plenty of silliness, such as a dad joke or strength contests. Dance events will center on Catwoman, the Joker and Harley Quinn, nonheroes who will be trying to woo guests with family-friendly entertainment.

While “DC Heroes and Villains Fest” had yet to begin at the time of writing, Magic Mountain is hoping for a theater-heavy experience.

“A lot of my team comes from New York, the Broadway side,” Mike Ostrom, manager of entertainment and events for the park, told immersive podcast No Proscenium. “So we’re trying to bring a lot of theatrical elements and story arc and all those things that involve the crowd, the participants, to really get involved in what they’re seeing.”