The news clipping on the altar told the story of an 83-year-old man, struck and killed by a motorist in Glendale. Dozens of shoes — painted ghostly-white —were arrayed in front of the altar, in remembrance of pedestrians killed by cars.

The altar, one of dozens at Grand Park’s annual Dia de los Muertos celebration, calls attention to pedestrian safety and street improvements.

More traditional altars dominate the park’s celebration of the 3,000-plus-year-old holiday, but altars devoted to social justice and human rights issues give this year’s event a modern twist. An altar from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office highlights the plight of Central American children crossing the U.S. border. Another is devoted to street vending, a practice that supporters want legalized in Los Angeles.

AARP and advocacy groups Los Angeles Walks and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition built the pedestrian safety altar. The groups want more bike lanes, wider sidewalks and other safety measures, and their display at Dia de los Muertos is a reminder of the dangers faced by pedestrians, said AARP multi-cultural communications director Anai Ibarra.

“There are names and faces associated with the dead,” Ibarra said.

Founded in the traditions of indigenous people from Mexico and Central America, and tinged with Catholicism, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the deceased while also poking fun at death with the use of skulls and masks.

More than 50 altars are on display at Grand Park through Saturday. In addition to Grand Park, other Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, events are planned in the city this weekend, including a celebration at Pacoima City Hall.

Artists and community leaders have been working on the altars for weeks, said Rudy Espinoza, interim director at Self-Help Graphics & Art, a local Chicano arts institute that helped organize the event.

Local artist Ofelia Esparza helped build one of the larger altars, which was covered in marigolds and decorated with photos of deceased friends and relatives. A scrawled list, written in purple marker, noted recent deaths, including that of Gustavo Cerati, the Argentinian rocker who died last month.

Others invited to create displays were groups such as Jovenes Inc., a homeless youth organization, and Los Angeles LGBT Center. Organizer Espinoza said the event sought to expand the social justice theme this year.

On Wednesday, Paul Wescott, a Buena Park resident who is employed by Los Angeles County, strolled through the park, snapping photos of the altars with his phone.

But Wescott said the altars highlighting social issues were “disrespectful” to Dia de los Muertos.

“Somebody is capitalizing on and riding the coattails of a tradition that started in a much different way,” Wescott said.

Organizer Espinoza disagreed, saying the altars focus on longstanding hardships faced by Angelenos.

“It’s an opportunity for the spirits to come meet us, but it’s also a time to resurrect issues,” Espinoza said.