The big rains in December definitely put a dent in the schedule for the completion of the Silver Lake Reservoir Meadow Park. But, they also pointed out–and we all saw that mini lake out there–that the drainage system that had been installed in the early stages of the park’s development was definitely inadequate.

In the intervening weeks, city crews have been installing larger drains as they complete the rest of the Meadow project.

If you have been out on the path lately, you will have seen that the paths and irrigation system within the Meadow Park are completed, and that the new landscaping and fence are coming along nicely.

The Meadow Park is scheduled for completion in April. A grand opening event co-hosted by Councilman Garcetti and the Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy is set for sometime around Earth Day, April 22.

Details of the event will be posted here. Do stay tuned.

Maintenance of the Silver Lake Reservoirs Pathway, an issue of primary importance to the Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy, has gained some key support in recent weeks.

The Conservancy has learned that the offices of City Council members Eric Garcetti and Tom LaBonge have contracted with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps to provide regular maintenance of the path and landscaping for one year. Conservation Corps crew members, composed of trained at-risk teens, are now coming every other Friday to perform light maintenance on the Armstrong Avenue segment of the path and adjacent landscaping, as well as cruising around the entire reservoir path to pick up trash and dead tree limbs and pull a few weeds. The Corps has also started a survey of the irrigation problems in the landscaping along the Armstrong “up and over” to determine what repairs are needed to the system and how they can be completed. Plans to plant new landscaping along this section of the path are also being considered.
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The Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy is anxiously awaiting news from the Department of Water and Power later this year on its efforts to gain state approval for the proposed Tesla Pedestrian Path that would complete the walking route around Silver Lake and Ivanhoe Reservoirs.

Department officials submitted plans for the Tesla walkway on October 1 to the California Department of Dam Safety and now say that they expect word back from Dam Safety officials within 90 days of the submittal date. State approval of the plans is key because the proposed Tesla walkway, a six-foot-wide concrete path adjacent to the current roadway, would cut into the retaining wall of the Ivanhoe Reservoir. Earlier, the DWP had proposed constructing a decomposed granite pathway that would match the existing reservoir pedestrian path, but design engineers switched to concrete to provide more structural strength to the dam. READ MORE

Photo by Michael Locke

On the sunny morning of December 20, 2008, about 200 community residents gathered to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Silver Lake Boulevard pedestrian path. The morning started with a continental breakfast followed by brief remarks from Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, California State Assemblymember Paul Krekorian, LADWP General Manager David Nahai, CSSLR President Shelley Marks, among others.

Then the red ribbon was cut with gigantic golden scissors and the Silver Lake Blvd path opened officially to the public. Many attendees took an inaugural walk along the beautifully- landscaped meandering path that borders Silver Lake Reservoir and the soon-to-be-open public park on the meadow to the east of the reservoir.

Be sure and check out gallery for more pictures of the ribbon cutting ceremony.