Grants

All State agencies suspended all of their park and habitat restoration grants in December due to the State budget deficit and the stalemate in the Legislature over how to resolve it. The suspensions potentially affect the El Dorado Nature Center stream restoration, the Homeland Cultural Arts Center theater and gallery building, the Colorado Lagoon restoration, the Rancho Los Cerritos visitor education center and arroyo restoration, the Seaside Park development, the Ernest S. McBride, Sr. Park Teen Center, the West San Gabriel River Parkway, and the DeForest Wetland restoration. The State agency responsible for this action will meet again in early January 2009, in order to reassess the situation.

Planning Activities

No active plans.

Development Activities

• Livingston Drive Park: Construction is nearly complete. The arch over the entry gate has been completed and stucco applied. The painting and installation of landscaping has been delayed as we wait for drier weather conditions. Completion is expected in early January.
• El Dorado Nature Center: Construction was ready to begin, but was stopped due to the suspension of the State grant.
• West San Gabriel River Parkway, Phase 1: Construction design is nearly complete, but corrections are still being made relative to irrigation and access.
• Drake-Chavez Greenbelt: New plans for the 710 Freeway redevelopment have a significant impact on the preliminary park design. Discussions with staff from the Public Works Department are underway about possible modifications to those plans.
• Orizaba Park Expansion: The Master Plan has been submitted for review by the Development Services Department.
• Scherer Park Redevelopment: The final input was received on the conceptual design on November 6, 2008. Revised plans are being prepared for regulatory review, including review by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
• Colorado Lagoon Restoration: Construction design plans for Phase 1 have been submitted, with building permits expected by January 20, 2009. Contacts are being made with State staff relative to the suspension of State funding and implications for the project schedule. Work by the design consultants has been suspended.
• Admiral Kidd Park Expansion: Plan Check corrections are being made. Construction bidding is expected in winter 2008/09.
• Homeland Cultural Arts Center at MacArthur Park: Construction bids were opened. Award of the contract is on hold due to the suspension of State funding.
• Ernest S. McBride, Sr. Park Teen Center and California Recreation Center: Submittal of the construction plans to Plan Check is expected in January. The design is continuing with non-State funds.
• Seaside Park: Construction bids were opened. Award of the contract is on hold due to the suspension of State funding.
• 851 Orange Avenue: The second community input meeting was held on December 13, 2008. The community was pleased with the preliminary design and revised plans are being prepared for submittal to the Development Services Department.

Park Land Acquisition

Oregon Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard: The Development Services Department’s Redevelopment Bureau approved the acquisition of the three-acre site of the former church school for park purposes. Acquisition will be completed in February.