The council approved a $1-million contract with BiTech Construction Company, Inc. to spearhead the restoration project. Also, municipal officials agreed to increase the budget of the Capital Projects Fund (CP) by $924,000 if needed. Eventually, the account will be balanced through grant revenue from an award of funding under the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) and the Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities Grant Program.
According to Meredith Reynolds, parks development officer for the Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine Department, the project will take place within 11.5 acres of the larger 48-acre park. Non-native plants found in the area will be removed to make room for approximately 6,440 drought-tolerant native plants and 200 trees.
The project will include the addition of mulch to nourish the vegetation and the installation of 209,000 square feet of irrigation systems. During the council meeting, city officials said they were pleased to know that 1,700 square feet of bioswales will be introduced to Willow Springs Park as part of the restoration.
As previously reported in the Signal Tribune, the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot was lost in a fire and Farm Lot 59 was vandalized. Both those areas are in close proximity to Willow Springs Park.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Depot was one of Long Beach’s oldest buildings. The depot was constructed in 1907 and was moved to the park in late January 2015. On Sept. 16, Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatched Engine 60 to put down the flames that engulfed the 66-foot-long and 30-foot-wide Mission Revival-style depot. Engine 7 investigated the fire, but a final report was not available by press time. Wednesday afternoon, the Signal Tribune reached out to the Long Beach Fire Department to inquire about an update on the matter, but the incident is still under investigation.
Months after the fire, over the Thanksgiving weekend, Farm Lot 59 was vandalized, according to Sasha Kanno, president and founder of the farm, which is located within Willow Springs Park.
A previous article on the matter revealed that Kanno believed the incidents of vandalism were indeed acts of retaliation by homeless individuals who had been living in the park.
She told the Signal Tribune that she has been in close contact with 7th District Long Beach Councilmember Roberto Uranga’s chief of staff, Celina Luna, “about every little incident that happens here.”
After speaking with Kanno, the Signal Tribune reached out for a statement from Uranga’s office on the incidents that have occurred at the park. Ed Kamlan, a spokesman for the City of Long Beach, responded by phone to inquire into the specific questions regarding the park area and some of Kanno’s concerns regarding the homeless population, upkeep and security.
Kamlan emailed the Signal Tribune in a statement that included some of the measures the City took to maintain the park.
“We take great pride in our parks and open spaces and work very hard to keep them clean and safe,” the statement reads. “We have recently increased security in the area, including adding new fencing and removing debris. We have a daily City presence on-site due to mulch-composting and tree-planting operations. City contractors remove trash and graffiti on a regular basis. We take this matter very seriously, and our police department is reaching out to the tenant to address security.”
The incidents have caused local residents to develop concerns for the park’s security. During the Jan. 10 council meeting, a member of the audience mentioned there are holes in the fencing surrounding the park.
Uranga said he hopes the depot can be restored or that a building will be put in as a replacement.
“We are going to be addressing the public-safety issues,” Uranga said. “I’ve spoken with our city staff in regards to that. I raised the same questions regarding those opportunities people have to enter the site where there are holes in the fencing. I’m hoping once this project is completed that those concerns would be addressed.”
Uranga said the City is planning on “activating the site” this year during the months of August and September.
The Signal Tribune emailed the councilmember’s office on Monday asking for a statement following the council’s decision, but a comment was not received by press time.
