phase 3: the meadow & the eucalyptus grove

click for full presentation set (5MB)

Phase 3 of the Master Plan involves designs for the Eucalyptus Grove on West Silver Lake Drive and the Meadow on Silver Lake Boulevard.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti of Council District 13 (CD 13) put together funding to hire landscape architects, Mia Lehrer + Associates (MLA) to study and design different ways that the two areas could be opened to the public, how they might be impacted by increased access, and how to design the areas for public use. Council Deputies Shane Goldsmith and Heather Repenning of CD 13 hosted meetings with the design team, Tom LaBonge of CD 4, CSSLR, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, The Department of Water and Power, The Bureau of Engineering, and representatives from the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council and the Silver Lake Dog Park.

The greater public process involved two community meetings. The first workshop was held at John Marshall High School on September 16th, 2006 and a second workshop on December 2nd at the Silver Lake Recreation Center.

Approximately 150 people attended the first workshop. Mia Lehrer and Michelle Frier of MLA conducted lengthy discussions in individual groups to see what concerns the community had about the reservoir property. Separate tables also allowed everyone to express what hopes they had for ways to use the property and what concerns they had about parking and traffic. CSSLR conducted a written survey to get community response on issues such as parking, security, and wildlife, with the focus on how access will affect any or all of these issues. The survey also had a section on possible future uses of the reservoir property once the reservoirs are no longer required for drinking water storage.

The second workshop on December 2nd, 2006 (held at the Silver Lake Rec Center), attracted upwards of 100 people curious to see how the results of the survey and discussions from the September 16th workshop were translated into a plan for the Meadow and the Eucalyptus Grove. The display of presentation boards showed minimal changes to the areas, with new designs limited to a couple of paths and some benches that focus on water views within the natural surroundings, away from the noise of the traffic and urban activities. Attendees made use of the workshop to ask question and leave additional comments. The full text of those comments are available here.

Due to great interest throughout the community in focusing on the reservoir property as a resource for wildlife awareness and native California habitats, Julie Van Wagner from the Environmental Management Division of the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) enlisted Wildlife Biologist Mark Blain from BonTerra Consulting to answer any questions or concerns about wildlife on the property and complete an biological survey regarding wildlife on the meadow. Elements of the MLA design highlight wildlife observation, protections and enhancements through the use of corridor passageways under any new fences. While the new landcaping intends to preserve the existing appearance of the Meadow, any additional features will primarily consist of native plant selections and a demonstration garden designed to attract various species of birds and other critters indigenous to the area.