Council Approves $400K Plan To Fix City Hall Grounds Post-Occupy L.A.
After months of restoration contemplation and astronomic cost estimates, L.A. City Council approved a plan today to revive the park surrounding City Hall. The 1.7-acre area, which once exhibited lush green grass, met its match when Occupy L.A. descended upon the land on October 1, 2011 and remained stationed on the grounds for nearly two months.
This time planners are adhering to a water conservation theme, calling for 51% less grass and more native, drought-tolerant plants. Makes sense given our dry climate, right? A gravel-like surface of decomposed granite will also adorn the park, says City News Service.
How much will this new landscape design cost? The estimate totals $390,000. But wait, there's more. The turf comes with a $135,000 annual maintenance fee, which is nearly double the current yearly costs to maintain the lawn at $76,000. The aforementioned theme, however, should save the city approximately $2,000 each year in water costs.
Incorporated into the new design are suggestions by Councilwoman Jan Perry to replace the entire lawn on the north side of City Hall with a low-impact dry garden. The grass on the sloped upper portion of the south lawn will also be replaced with plants and granite paths. The rest of the lawn will be cultivated for the return of the beloved grass via re-seeding.
Why bother regrowing the grass? Parks Superintendent Michael Shull told Council the plan served as a compromise that would allow the city to continue to hold its hundreds of annual events on the lawn in front of City Hall.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to approve the proposal. Work on the new landscape is slated to begin as early as this week; the park should reopen to the public by early May.
