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Los Angeles could really use more public parks, don't you think? Some good folks in Silver Lake do, and they're hoping to do something about it. Maybe you'd like to help them.
See, there are two really fantastic little bodies of water in the Silver Lake/Los Feliz corner of the city - the Ivanhoe Reservoir and the Silver Lake Reservoir. The problem is, they and their surrounding properties are fenced off from the public. That's fine as long as that fence is protecting our drinking water, but 1) that fence isn't exactly keeping the birds from swimming in the reservoir, and 2) the reservoirs aren't even going to be used for storing drinking water as of 2009 (2015 for Ivanhoe). So let's open up that land.
Thankfully, the DWP agrees, and is working with a coalition of local committees to figure out how to best serve the area with this new public space. The city's Bureau of Engineering already carved out a nice new walking path along the western perimeter of the Silver Lake reservoir area, and is working to extend the path along the heavily-trafficked Silver Lake Blvd. side.
The Committee to Save Silver Lake's Reservoirs (CSSLR) has been especially dogged in their efforts to get the community involved in discussions about the space, and is encouraging anyone interested to take part in the workshop Saturday afternoon at Marshall High focusing on plans for the meadow and eucalyptus grove areas. Even though Silver Lake has an artsy, liberal reputation, these meetings attract plenty of Not-In-My-Back-Yard jackasses who are opposed to a public park so close to their homes, so if you want to see the space opened up you really should show up, and not just expect CSSLR to do all the heavy lifting here.
The workshop is from 3-6 pm; John Marshall High School is at 3939 Tracy Street.
Photo by Malingering via Flickr
