Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe joined local officials in the groundbreaking celebration for the future 5.5-acre Orange Grove Park. The County entered into a 40-year ground lease and joint use agreement with the owner of the property and the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District to develop the park. Following active community involvement during the three-year planning and design stages, a construction contract award was made to C.S. Legacy Construction to get the project on its way.
The Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles (CDC) is overseeing the development of the new $4.029 million park funded by the office of Supervisor Knabe. Orange Grove Park will include a new graded roadway and pedestrian ramp, parking for 15 vehicles, a unique sundial entry plaza with celestial bodies and orbit patterns depicted in colored concrete with a sandblasted finish, restrooms, shaded picnic areas, playgrounds, walking paths, and an exercise course with fitness equipment.
The park landscape will feature a wide range of drought tolerant plant material containing both native and non-native species such as oak and sycamore trees that will shade the site. Water usage will be controlled and monitored by a satellite-linked irrigation controller and drainage that has been designed to retain water onsite and direct excess runoff to several bioretention areas. Construction is scheduled for completion in February 2014.
“It is exciting to break ground on a project developed with input from the residents, and designed by a team of professionals whose goal is to ensure that Hacienda Heights residents have new green space where their children can play, and neighbors can gather to enjoy their community,” said Supervisor Knabe.
Orange Grove Park is made possible with the support of the County’s Fourth Supervisorial District, the CDC, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, community members, and the design team of Katherine Spitz and Associates.
The park is located at 14517 Orange Grove Avenue, in Hacienda Heights. Once completed, it will be operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information on park services, please call (310) 965-8602.