Los Angeles civic leaders and San Fernando Valley residents celebrated on Monday the opening of Caballero Creek Park, which officials billed as the “first self-sustaining park” in the city.
City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who represents west San Fernando Valley neighborhoods, was joined by residents and dignitaries Monday morning for the park opening. Located just south of Victory Boulevard on Lindley Avenue, the city converted a 1.5-acre underutilized lot into a park, right where the Los Angeles River meets Caballero Creek in Tarzana.
Blumenfield hailed the project as self-sustaining, meaning rain and runoff water will be captured on and off-site, and using solar power, the water will be cleaned to irrigate the park.
“For decades, this lot was a concrete blight and together we converted this eyesore into a truly innovative park that generations of Angelenos will enjoy for years to come,” Blumenfield said in a statement. “In my 13 years on the City Council we have been able to create multiple parks along the LA River, grow an amazing bike network and show the city that these sorts projects are not just possible but can help bring communities together.”
The park was made possible by work from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks, Bureau of Sanitation, General Services Department, and L.A. County.
Blumenfield helped to secure seven different funding sources and cut through red tape over the past few years for the project, according to his office.
Caballero Creek Park cost about $5.5 million split between the city, county and state.
“The new Caballero Creek Park showcases all of the great things that the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority brings to the Los Angeles River,” Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Chair George Lange said in a statement. “Through partnerships with the city of Los Angeles and the community, innovation, funding, and beautiful design, the MRCA has created a lasting, self-sustaining community asset that offers recreational and educational opportunities, watershed protection, and a connection to the Sepulveda Basin.”
In addition to a new green space for the San Fernando Valley, the park will serve as an outdoor classroom for Reseda High School. The park’s design prioritizes watershed protection, and what is known as a “bioswale and a wetland component” for storm water treatment, officials said.
The new wetlands will create habitat, clean water and help connect residents to California’s riverine ecology. Residents and visitors will also be able to enjoy an outdoor fitness center, play and recreation, and access L.A. River bike paths.
“Conservation in Los Angeles isn’t just about protecting open space in our mountains. It’s also about restoring nature in the heart of our neighborhoods,” Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Chair Miguel A. Luna said in a statement. “Caballero Creek Park shows how even an acre and a half can make a meaningful difference by capturing and cleaning stormwater, restoring riparian habitat, and creating a welcoming public space along the Los Angeles River.”