Save LA River Open Space

Working to save the San Fernando Valley’s Last Remaining

Unprotected Open Space on the L.A. River


	Community Conservancy International’s President Esther Feldman leads L.A. River Natural Park design workshop.

	Workshop Participants by Organization A diverse group of regional and community leaders and organizations provided input to and guidance for this vision and conceptual design. Audubon California Audubon, San Fernando Valley Chapter City of L.A. Bureau of Engineering Friends of the Los Angeles River Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust Los Angeles Conservation Corps Pacoima Beautiful Studio City Residents Association Sierra Club, Los Angeles Chapter Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Southern California Tennis Association Urban Semillas Office of Congressman Howard Berman Office of Senator Sheila Kuehl Assemblymember Michael Feuer Office of L.A. City Councilmember Wendy Greuel Mayor Nury Martinez, City of San Fernando

	Help Us Make the L.A. River Natural Park a Reality Click here and donate today to keep this vision moving forward. The funding for the outreach and environmental research for the LA River Open Space is from concerned community members like you. Become part of the success story! Act Now – If this unique property is lost to development it can never be replaced!

Site Vision

THE VISION – Los Angeles River Natural Park
A natural, river-oriented park that integrates the L.A. River, habitat restoration, regional public access, open space and natural runoff treatment to improve water quality.

Overall Design Goal
Preserve and Enhance Connection to the Los Angeles River and Riverfront Open Space
and

Provide regional public access to L.A. River
Connect to upstream and downstream river parks and trails
Maximize the site’s L.A. riverfront location
Connect to other regional river greenways
Be compatible with LA City’s L.A. River Revitalization Master Plan and
other regional plans

The L.A. River Natural Park
The L.A. River Natural Park vision is a forward-thinking concept design for the last remaining unprotected open space along 22 miles of the L.A. River in the San Fernando Valley. The plan focuses on water quality, public access, riverfront preservation and recreation. The vision and conceptual design was developed by Community Conservancy International and BlueGreen Consulting, with technical input from Geosyntec. A diverse group of regional and community leaders and organizations provided input to and guidance for this vision and conceptual design. Funding was provided by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Studio City Residents Association.

L.A. River Natural Park Vision & Concept Design Report

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Site Description
The 16 acre site is located immediately adjacent to the Los Angeles River in Studio City, between Whitsett Avenue and Coldwater Canyon.

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Site Hydrology
An area of 149 acres between Moorpark Street and the Los Angeles River contributes untreated urban and stormwater runoff directly to the L.A. River; there is no storm drain system. During rainfall events, stormwater runs along street curbs and into the river.		Drainage Area Diagram

Regional Significance

The 16-acre site provides extensive regional, environmental, economic and social benefits.

Regional significance of the site includes:

Proximity and adjacency to Los Angeles River
Unique L.A. River public access and trailhead opportunities
Hydrology allows natural treatment of up to 149 acres of surrounding area
Potential for water catchment and storage for re-use
Large size permits integrated natural treatment to catch polluted runoff and improve water quality in the L.A. River and coastal waters
Can assist in meeting regional water quality improvement goals
397 space public parking garage 500 yards from site along L.A. River
Easy access to regional public transit
Connectivity to existing L.A. River parks and trails
Connectivity to river parks and trail on tributaries of the L.A. River

Regional Significance Diagram

Regional Connectivity Diagram

Project Goals

Improve Water Quality: Integrate natural treatment of urban and stormwater runoff

Develop Regional Access to Los Angeles River Greenway

Restore Native Riparian Habitat and Preserve Open Space

Integrate Historic Recreational Uses with Green Approach

Improve Water Quality Diagram	Regional Access Diagram	Native Habitat Diagram	Historic Recreational Uses Diagram

Click here to enlarge plan element .	Click here to enlarge plan element.	Click here to enlarge plan element.	Click here to enlarge plan element.

Community Benefits
In addition to regional benefits, the proposed vision and concept design for an L.A. River Natural Park can provide multiple neighborhood benefits including:

Preserve and enhance natural open space
Incorporate mature trees
Traffic control and calming
Perimeter security fencing
Address flooding problems and current lack of storm drain system
Improve neighborhood drainage
Preserve historic recreation
Off-Site parking & public access (L.A. River Parking Garage)
Improve walking opportunities
Pedestrian connections to Ventura Boulevard
San Fernando community involvement
Neighborhood health and quality of life
Education and interpretation

Successful River Water Quality Improvement Parks


Do you want to know more about how hydrology engineering, habitat restoration and creation of green park and open spaces are being integrated to naturally capture and filter polluted runoff? Click here to see examples of successful L.A. River Water Quality Improvement Parks. What’s beneath the surface? These green spaces may look like just regular park land – but in each of these examples, cutting-edge technology and design are strategically interwoven to create landscapes that use plants, soils and natural processes to capture and clean pollutants from dry weather and stormwater runoff. In addition to critically-important water quality improvements that benefit us all and help protect rivers, bays, beaches and ocean waters, these green spaces		By BlueGreen Consulting

SaveOpenSpace@SLAROS.org

t.818.509.0230

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