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Avocado Heights is an unincorporated community located in the San Gabriel Valley, and next month its over 15,000 residents are getting a pimped out new park.Control of Avenue Park was officially transferred today from the county’s Community Development Commission to the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation - which will oversee day-to-day park maintenance, explains a news release from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina.
Community input over an extended period of time led to the final plans for the park, which will be equipped with universally accessible playground equipment (which means children with disabilities can use the play equipment), as well as sustainable landscaping. In addition to a number of trees planted, the park will feature drought-tolerant plants, drip irrigation, infiltration basins to collect water run-off, and underground storage tanks to gather water before releasing it slowly underground.
Avenue Park will also boast gardens, tree groves, a nature trail, and a pedestrian bridge plus new picnic areas, benches, lighting, and decorative signage. But the biggest boon for the community, who specifically requested the park have such a feature, is the inclusion of a Skate Park.
The LA County Arts Commission has some background information on the area of Avocado Heights, which is known for being an "active equestrian and gardening community":
The La Puente area was originally inhabited by Gabrielino Indians until Spanish soldier and explorer Don Gaspar de Portola arrived in 1769. According to legend, Portola named the region “Llana de la Puente,” meaning “Plain of the Bridge,” after making a bridge of poles so his party could cross the San Jose Creek. The city of La Puente was established in 1841 when European settlers arrived by wagon train from New Mexico. In the 1930s the area was recognized for its abundance of citrus, walnut and avocado groves.
This new park will open to the public on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 9:30 a.m., giving L.A. County kids one more space to play in for the sunny summer months and beyond.
