June 9, 2010
Work Begins on Encanto Nature Walk Bioswale Project Funded with $507,990 Grant from Rivers and Mountain Conservancy
After a nearly a two year delay, the result of grant funds being frozen by the state — and now released, work has finally begun on the City of Duarte’s Encanto Nature Walk Bioswale and Outdoor Nature Classroom project at Encanto Park.
In 2008, the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy (RMC) granted $507,990 to Duarte for the project, following a planning grant of $150,000 in 2006. In addition to the ecological benefits of the bioswale, the nature walk and outdoor nature classroom will open up educational and recreational opportunities for visitors to the park and the adjacent San Gabriel River.
“We’re very excited to be partnering with the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. The Encanto Nature Walk is destined to be one of the jewels in the regional Emerald Necklace Project. The bioswale will filter the surface water from the park before it reaches the San Gabriel River. The entire project will serve as a valuable educational feature for one of Duarte’s most popular parks,” said Duarte Engineering Development Manager, Steve Esbenshade.
The 1,000 foot bioswale being constructed along the southern and western perimeter of the park will include interpretive signage, native landscaping and a small infiltration basin to manage storm runoff from the park. The project will also include:
- A small outdoor nature center with interpretive displays and an outdoor classroom located at the south end of Encanto Park funded with $100,000 from Proposition A funds from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. The City also contributed $20,000 in matching funds.
- Nature trail with interpretive exhibits leading from the nature center along the west bank of the San Gabriel River to a view point located at the end of a berm which projects into the river channel. A principal objective of the project will be to enhance connections between the park and the river.
The City was able to get a head start on the river portion of the project last year utilizing $150,000 in Proposition A funds provided by Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina. Funds were used to remove a chain link fence and screen of non-native plants that had previously isolated visitors from the attractive river environment. The City involved at-risk youth in the project by contracting with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. The Conservation Corps workers will also be employed to construct the river trail and viewpoint.
America West Landscape, Inc. has been contracted by the City to construct the bioswale, nature center and outdoor classroom at a cost of $431,244.90.
The entire project is expected to be completed this fall. Duarte’s street maintenance staff will provide long term maintenance for the project and will receive training for native landscape maintenance from Amigos de los Rios.
For more information, call the City of Duarte (626) 357-7931, ext 221.
