LA’S FIRST SELF-SUSTAINING PARK

WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CA – Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was joined by city, local leaders and residents for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Caballero Creek Park. Located just south of Victory Blvd. on Lindley Ave, this site will convert a 1.5-acre underutilized lot into a multiple-benefit park right at the convergence of the Los Angeles River and Caballero Creek in Tarzana. It will be the first self-sustaining park in Los Angeles- meaning water will be captured on and off-site and using solar, the water will be cleaned to irrigate the park.

“It takes a village to take underutilized city land and create this sort of new, innovative green space and while it may be a heavy lift, it’s so wonderful to know that countless generations of Angelenos will be able to enjoy this incredible park,” said Blumenfield.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), Department of Recreation and Parks, Bureau of Sanitation, General Services Department, and Los Angeles County have joined forces for Caballero Creek Park. Blumenfield helped bring in seven different funding sources and cut through significant red tape over the past few years to get shovels in the ground. Overall, it will cost about $5.5 million split between the city, county and state.He also partnered with Reseda High School so this new space will serve as an outdoor classroom. The design utilizes innovative methods that lead to watershed protection, including a bioswale and a wetland component for storm water treatment. The new wetlands will create habitat, clean water and help connect Angelenos to California’s struggling riverine ecology. The site plan also includes a variety of offerings for the community including an outdoor fitness center, play and recreation, access to the LA River bike paths, and more.

“This will be the first self-sustaining park along the Los Angeles River,” said Joseph T. Edmiston, FAICP, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, one of the funders of the project. “Most importantly it will be the park that establishes the standards that all parks going forward will adhere to. That is how real change occurs.”

Leonard Shaffer, President of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council said, “One of the important objectives of this project is to have a place where residents of Tarzana, students from Reseda High School, and residents of surrounding communities can learn about water reclamation and conservation; something that has grown in importance because of ongoing changes in our atmosphere.

Caballero Creek Park is set to open around April of next year. It marks the latest new City park that Blumenfield has helped create following the Costanso Fire Station Park and the LA River and Aliso Creek Confluence Park. He also led the effort to create the new facilities at the Woodland Hills Rec Center, as well as major renovations at various parks throughout his community.