How Does City Hall's Garden Grow? (We Hope Sustainably)

The Angeles Chapter’s Water Committee urges L.A. officials to adopt a drought-tolerant agenda in its new landscaping effort.

Three years ago, a young Water Committee of the Angeles Chapter wrote a letter to City Hall to suggest removing turf and replanting the area with drought-tolerant landscaping and a demonstration garden that would serve as an educational tool for visitors. This all happened in the midst of one of the longest droughts in Southern California.

Only Councilman Paul Koretz responded and met with the committee. In May 2010, the committee was notified that City Council had planted some California natives on the corner of First and Main streets on City Hall property — a small step, but a victory nonetheless.

Now, committee members again are meeting with officials about the City Hall lawn, but this time at the city’s invitation. Thanks to Occupy L.A., which left the slopes at City Hall bare of any turf whatsoever, the city has an opportunity to do something different in landscaping the grounds.

When the lawn became a hot media item, the water committee sent off another letter, reiterating its hopes for a drought-tolerant solution. (Read it at angeles.sierraclub.org/water). This time the committee received a prompt response with an invitation to discuss what the “new” grounds should look like.

Chapter staff member George Watland and I received a tour of the grounds, which are now closed off to the public, and met with city staff and community members to discuss options. There were three initial options:

• basically do nothing and return the site to its former glory;
• reduce turf by 58%, replacing it with drought-tolerant plants and decomposed granite;
• Reduce turf by 80%, replacing it with more permeable pathways, drought-tolerant plants and decomposed granite.

The plans also stipulate that all trees are to remain as is on the property. The consensus of most of the group, which included landscape architects and Native Plant Society members, was the second option – with Sierra Club voting for the third (less turf, more plants and paths). The plans were unveiled to the neighborhood council for discussion in early January.

At another meeting, discussion focused on variations for the garden. Would the plants be mostly natives? Or should they be a combination of natives and other plants? What other life would plants bring to the downtown area, i.e., butterflies, bees etc.?

Other issues arose too. Would there be more seating? Could mulch be used in place of disposable granite? Will the park be pet friendly? A suggestion was made to have a symbolic Southern California City native plant/flower, and an edible garden as part of the demonstration garden.

City Hall’s water use outdoors has been reduced by almost half of what it was in 2001, part of the mayor’s push on water conservation in Southern California. The focus for the new grounds will be on function and use, sustainability and education. Planting areas will be created by default, meaning the areas where the lawns are routinely used will be preserved; lawn space not in use will be used for planting.

Time is a factor. City Hall would like to reopen the grounds as soon as possible. For more information, go to www.laparks.org/restoration. To get involved with the Water Committee; join us every second Tuesday of the month at the Angeles Chapter office.