Parks and Environment

Knabe Provides $2.5 Million For The Renovation And Expansion Of The San Pedro Service Center

To ensure that the San Pedro Service Center remains a great community resource, Supervisor Knabe recently allocated $2.5 million to be used for the renovation and expansion of the San Pedro facility.

The facility, which opened its doors in 1972, has continued to expand its services over the years, while receiving few upgrades. In an effort to improve the condition of the 35-year old facility, Supervisor Knabe worked closely with many of the groups that use the Center. The studies revealed that the Service Center has simply outgrown its current configuration and will require substantial modifications due to the shortage of space and the overall condition of the building.

With the Supervisor’s funding commitment for the project now in place, the County will begin to study how to best expand the heavily-used facility. The top priorities for the remodel and expansion include: additional rooms for senior programs, more childcare classrooms, and meeting space for local community groups. The funding for the project came from Supervisor Knabe’s Fourth District capital project account.

The San Pedro Service Center is a vital community resource, said Supervisor Knabe. I want to ensure that the Service Center, which has served the San Pedro community so well, remains a great resource for the community for another 35 years and beyond.

The San Pedro Service Center is located at 769 West Third Street in San Pedro. The Center currently provides a wide array of services to the community, ranging from a senior meals program, child care services, computer and citizenship classes, food pantry, toy loan center, and more.

Paramount Receives $2.5 Million From County For Dills Park Expansion

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce a grant of $2.5 million to the City of Paramount for use in the development and expansion of Ralph A. Dills Park.

The Dills Park Expansion Project is a multi-phased acquisition and development project adjacent to the Los Angeles River. The County funds will assist the City in developing new open space near the existing park and renovating the preexisting facilities. The expanded area of the park will extend the Dills Park Trail and provide a natural setting with a large meadow, picnic areas, restroom, and playground. The renovation of the existing parkland will convert this area into a nature walk that connects to the expansion area and provides improved accessibility on the Los Angeles River Trail. In addition, the entire park will employ new water management practices and materials that reduce water usage and runoff, and provide filtered water drainage into the Los Angeles River.

The total cost for the Dills Parks Expansion Project is $4 million. The County’s $2.5 million contribution came from the Fourth Supervisorial District’s portion of the Safe Neighborhood Parks Propositions. The Rivers and Mountains Conservancy provided a $1 million grant to the project, and the remaining $500,000 came from State grant funds.

My vision for the Los Angeles River is to make it an asset for all, so that anyone that comes in contact with the River and the neighborhoods around it benefit from the resources that we have invested right here, said Supervisor Knabe. With this $2.5 million contribution to the City of Paramount, we will be making another important commitment to the Los Angeles River in the form of an expansion and renovation of Dills Park.

Manhattan Beach Project Will redirect Urban Runoff And Pollutants Away From Ocean

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today accepted the construction of a new low-flow diversion that was recently completed in the City of Manhattan Beach along 28th Street.

Low-flow diversions are designed to keep non-storm water flows from reaching the ocean by instead diverting the water into a sewage treatment plant. This new diversion joins 17 other similar County-owned and operated diversions in the South Bay designed to redirect urban runoff and improve water quality along the coast. The total cost of the Manhattan Beach project was $895, 808.

With each new diversion project in the South Bay, we are expanding our efforts to improve the quality of water flowing into Santa Monica Bay and decreasing the amount of toxins and pollutants in runoff water from entering the ocean, said Supervisor Don Knabe.

New Project Near Marina del Rey Will Redirect Urban Runoff And Pollutants Away From Ocean

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today accepted the construction of a new low-flow diversion that was recently completed at Washington Boulevard in the vicinity of Marina del Rey.

Low-flow diversions are designed to divert non-storm flows away from the ocean and to a sewage treatment plant. This newest diversion is one of 18 County-owned and operated diversions in the South Bay designed to redirect urban runoff and improve water quality along the coast by preventing pollutants that may be in that runoff from entering the ocean. The total cost of the diversion project was $1,214,588.

These low-flow diversions are an important part of the County’s approach to improving water quality, said Supervisor Knabe. Although these diversions are successful at directing runoff to treatment facilities, any long term solution to improve water quality will require the public’s help to reduce pollution.

New County Public Health Laboratory Dedicated

Supervisor Don Knabe and leaders from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health participated in the ribbon-cutting and dedication of a new laboratory this week. The public health lab is the County’s focal point for testing, observation, and rapid response on hundreds of thousands of human specimens and environmental samples.

Through the testing services at this multi-million dollar, technologically advanced lab, we can quickly test water and food for contamination, identify the sources of disease outbreaks and limit their spread, and test and treat sick patients with serious, communicable diseases as quickly as possible, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. The lab is a key component in our fight against terrorism through testing for chemical and biological agents in environmental samples and human specimens.

The facility, located in the City of Downey, opened its doors in March. The previous laboratory had been housed in downtown Los Angeles. The new, more spacious location allows for the implementation of advanced technology and equipment that increases the lab’s capabilities. The bigger facility gives approximately 165 staffers room to safely and effectively do their jobs in over 34,000 square feet of laboratory space.

The dedication of this facility is about something very critical in the life of this County and the service we provide to our over 10 million residents, said Supervisor Knabe. This laboratory and its dedicated staff are committed to the singular goal of keeping you and your family safe from disease and biological threats. The work that will be completed in this facility will touch the life of every person in this County in a positive way.

Los Angeles County’s public health lab is unique among other local public health laboratories in California due to the volume of testing it performs. The laboratory conducts more than 700,000 tests on 400,000-plus specimens per year. It serves the needs of more than 10 million residents and tens of thousands of visitors in the County.

The work the laboratory does to support the health and well-being of the public includes the following:

– Specialized monitoring and reference testing for the detection of biological and chemical terrorism agents in environmental samples and human specimens.

– Testing drinking water and recreational water for harmful bacteria.

– Supporting the tuberculosis control program through testing patient specimens to detect and identify active TB cases. The lab also tests for TB strains that may be multi-drug or extremely-drug resistant, in order to guide effective patient treatment and to determine if there is an outbreak.

– Testing foods for the possibility of contamination, which means a faster response on recalls of tainted items.

-Testing specimens during disease outbreaks, such as Hepatitis A, E. Coli O157, botulism, and salmonellosis, to prevent further spread and quickly treat those affected.

– Testing for the presence of West Nile Virus and other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes.

– Blood lead testing to detect elevated levels of lead in children.

– Performing rabies testing on potentially infected animals as part of an on-going rabies control program.

– Supporting HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease programs through patient specimen testing, outreach programs, and demonstration projects to enhance disease control and prevention efforts.

– Training, education, and consultation for laboratory personnel within and outside of Los Angeles County.

– Providing reference and specialized testing to help hospital laboratories and doctors in diagnosing unusual and rare diseases.

– Identifying emerging diseases and new strains of germs that cause disease.

This state-of-the-art facility is necessary for the protection and health of those in Los Angeles County. Through testing and monitoring, public health officials are better able to prevent widespread illness in the community.

Knabe Provides City of Long Beach With $5 Million For Significant Environmental Projects Along L.A. River

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe today presented to Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster $5 million in Proposition A funds to restore dozens of acres of historic wetlands, acquire land to be developed into greenspace linking existing parks, and develop other areas into park space.

My vision for the Los Angeles River is to make it an asset for all, so that anyone that comes in contact with the River and the neighborhoods around it benefit from the resources that we have invested right here, said Supervisor Knabe. With this $5 million contribution we will be making another important commitment to the Los Angeles River in the form of much-needed additional and improved green space throughout this part of Long Beach.

"Today is a big step in restoring our wetlands, preserving our natural open areas and developing community parks on the Westside of Long Beach," said Mayor Bob Foster.

The $5 million will be earmarked for the following four projects in Long Beach:

Drake/Chavez Greenbelt Land Acquisition ($1 million)

Land along the lower Los Angeles River will be acquired to begin to connect Chavez and Drake Parks to 16 acres of recently acquired land to form a 46-acre greenway and parkland area on the east bank of the Los Angeles River. This project will link downtown Long Beach with the LA River. This land will be developed into a greenway with: wetlands, trails, open space, and a wildlife habitat along a biologically significant and unique area of the Los Angeles River where salt water meets freshwater.

DeForest Wetlands Development
($2.5 million)

In the middle of an urban area and running along the Los Angles River next to the 710 Freeway, this project is part of a larger lower Los Angeles River parkway plan that will implement multipurpose wetlands in several Los Angeles County river flood detention basins. The project is a joint project among the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, the City of Long Beach, the California Coastal Conservancy and the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. This development will include: the re-creation of 34 acres of historic wetlands, scrub and woodland habitat; providing water quality improvement; Passive recreational amenities; and retaining flood control properties to create a river parkway along the lower Los Angeles River.

Wrigley Greenbelt Development
($1 million)

Covering nearly eight acres of land, this development is located along the east bank of the lower Los Angeles River, between Willow and 34th Streets. The proposed project will enhance the site and complete the park with: native plants, a multipurpose trail, a drinking fountain, a storm water runoff swale, and a rest area with bike racks for bikers riding along the Los Angeles River bike trail.

Baker Mini-Park Development
($500,000)

This project will develop a 1.34-acre neighborhood mini-park in the Wrigley Heights area of Long Beach near the Los Angeles River and the 405 Freeway. The project consists of installation of: irrigation, playground equipment, turf and trees, and picnic tables.

Construction and Improvements Continue At Cerritos Regional Park

After a significant investment in improvements and new facilities, the renovation of Cerritos Regional County Park is scheduled to be completed later this summer.

When finished, the construction crews will have replaced 35 acres of park grass and planted 200 new trees. The new park turf is a specialized type of grass that will grow well with the elevated levels of salt in the park’s ground. The growth of grass in the park has historically been a unique challenge because of high alkaline and salt levels in the soil of the former dairy lots the park is built on. Due to the park’s size, the turf renovation was separated into two phases. Phase I, along Bloomfield Avenue, was opened to the public last winter and Phase II has been seeded and will open in late-July with project activities being completed by mid-August. The County is also planning on implementing a customized maintenance program, which should keep the new grass healthy for years to come.

In addition to replacing the turf, many other facilities at Cerritos Regional Park are also being improved as part of the project, including renovating the pool, improving the five park restrooms, repaving existing parking lots, constructing a new parking area, and installing new park lighting.

The community swimming pool facility re-opened last week. The adult and children’s pool were replastered; the pool piping was replaced; and handicapped access lift, diving boards, new deck, and other accessories were installed. Additionally, the pool’s mechanical systems were replaced and the bathhouse dressing rooms, showers, and restrooms were completely renovated.

Five restrooms throughout the park are getting a makeover as well. The restroom renovation includes new wall tile, partitions, fixtures, ceiling finishing, floor coating, and exterior paint; the restrooms are scheduled to be done by the end of July.

The park has four primary parking areas that needed renovation. The project replaced the asphalt in these existing parking areas, improving their appearance and added a new parking area. The new parking area created 65 additional parking spaces improving the community’s access to the park.

To improve park lighting and increase public safety, over 150 additional park lights are being installed. The installation of the lights will be completed by mid-August.

Improving our County parks is a top priority for me, said Supervisor Knabe. I am working very closely with our Departments of Public Works and Parks & Recreation, to ensure that this project is not only done as quickly as possible, but that it is also done right. With so many challenges dealing with this old dairy soil, we need to take every precaution to guarantee that this new grass thrives, and opening the park too soon could damage or kill the new grass.

County Has Eye Towards The Environment With New And Upgraded beach Vehicles

Over $2.2 million in renovations and improvements at Schabarum Regional County Park in Rowland Heights will be underway shortly, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

This extensive construction at Schabarum includes three distinct projects: the demolition and replacement of seven existing pedestrian/service bridges and the repair of two existing vehicle bridges; the regrading of the existing horse staging area to improve drainage and horse trail alignment; and the replacement of the existing playground equipment with new equipment.

The estimated cost of each project is as follows: $1,294,000 for the Bridges Replacement Project, $646,000 for the Horse Staging Area Project, and $312,000 for the Play Area Replacement Project. The total budget for the entire three-part project is $2,252,000.

The Bridges Replacement and Horse Staging Area Projects are completely funded with Fourth District Capital Project funds and the Play Area Replacement Project is funded in part by State Proposition 40 Grant funds.

This project is about making a reinvestment in our community, said Supervisor Knabe. These improvements will not only increase the safety at and usefulness of Schabarum Park, but will also benefit the many residents of surrounding communities who utilize this Park.

Schabarum Regional County Park in Rowland Heights Will soon undergo Three Major Improvement Projects

Over $2.2 million in renovations and improvements at Schabarum Regional County Park in Rowland Heights will be underway shortly, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

This extensive construction at Schabarum includes three distinct projects: the demolition and replacement of seven existing pedestrian/service bridges and the repair of two existing vehicle bridges; the regrading of the existing horse staging area to improve drainage and horse trail alignment; and the replacement of the existing playground equipment with new equipment.

The estimated cost of each project is as follows: $1,294,000 for the Bridges Replacement Project, $646,000 for the Horse Staging Area Project, and $312,000 for the Play Area Replacement Project. The total budget for the entire three-part project is $2,252,000.

The Bridges Replacement and Horse Staging Area Projects are completely funded with Fourth District Capital Project funds and the Play Area Replacement Project is funded in part by State Proposition 40 Grant funds.

This project is about making a reinvestment in our community, said Supervisor Knabe. These improvements will not only increase the safety at and usefulness of Schabarum Park, but will also benefit the many residents of surrounding communities who utilize this Park.

Irrigation Overhaul Planned at Los Verdes Golf Course

More than $2.6 million will be invested in renovating the irrigation system at the County’s Los Verdes Golf Course on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Supervisor Don Knabe announced this week.

The existing irrigation system is more than 30 years old and has exhausted its useful life. The new system will include a weather station and computer system to fully automate irrigation of the golf course. In addition to gauging water needs, the new system will also be capable of injecting fertilizer into the turf. The funding will provide for a more efficient system that will be able to determine the optimal times for irrigation to be conducted.

The project budget is $2,627,000, which will be funded with $2.1 million in State Proposition 40 funds, $327,000 from the Los Verdes Golf Course Capital Improvement Project Fund, and $200,000 in net costs to the County.

"Los Verdes is a wonderful asset to affordable public golf in our region, said Supervisor Knabe. "This new irrigation system will help update and maintain the stunning grounds for golfers."

Los Verdes Golf Course will remain open during construction as there is no anticipated impact on play or anticipated closure of any part of the golf course.