Under blue skies Tuesday, residents and dignitaries gathered to dedicate San Pedro’s new Los Angeles Sister City Plaza on Gaffey Street near the 110 Freeway. The 1.68-acre green space is the 38th park to be opened in the city’s 50 Park Initiative, a pledge to bring more open space to park-poor areas of Los Angeles. The event highlight was the ceremonial raising of the flags representing L.A.’s 25 sister cities.

Costing just under a half-million dollars, the plaza was designed as an “exit” park for San Pedro as motorists enter the northbound 110 Freeway and Vincent Thomas Bridge leaving town. While critics believe the park will be difficult to maintain and is likely to attract the homeless, officials promised that city crews would provide cleaning and oversight.

The event, hosted by Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino, also was used to promote the city’s long history of welcoming immigrants. “This plaza will remind us to embrace our international relationships,” he said.