Paper-airplane sculpture to provide shade at LA's Grand Park

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Visitors to Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles will soon be provided with shade from the Southern California sun by a whimsical series of paper airplanes.

The Paper Airplane sculpture was the winner of a design contest held by the Los Angeles Music Center, which manages the park.

The design features 11 overlapping triangular airplanes made of a white mesh material. It is expected to be installed in the park by June and will remain for two years.

Artists Elenita Torres and Dean Sherriff, who moved to Los Angeles just five years ago, said they were motivated by their love for the city and the park itself.

"It's such a vibrant county, there's so much movement going on, you need a park like this in the center of it to give people a sanctuary," Sherriff said.

The design contest was held to help improve the public's enjoyment of the park by providing shade from the summer sun during performances, festivals and other events.

Funding for the project is coming from the Goldhirsh Foundation's MyLA2050 Grants Challenge.

The 12-acre Grand Park opened in the heart of downtown in 2012.