Newly opened Caballero Creek Park in Reseda is “the first self-sustaining park in Los Angeles,” utilizing solar energy to capture and clean water for irrigation, city officials and local residents announced during a ribbon-cutting for the park on Monday.
Joone Kim-Lopez, general manager and executive director of LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN), said the new park captures and filters runoff from 11 acres of local streets. A 1.5-acre lot near the LA River and Caballero Creek was converted into the park. Kim-Lopez described it as transforming an “asphalt lot into a vibrant, welcoming green space for our community.”
Located at 6351 Lindley Avenue, Caballero Creek Park holds a bioswale, wetland habitat, outdoor fitness equipment, play and recreation areas, and provides access to the LA River bike paths. It will also serve as an outdoor classroom for students from nearby Reseda High School.
“For decades, this lot was a concrete blight and together we converted this eyesore into a truly innovative park that generations of Angelenos will enjoy for years to come,” said LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who represents the West San Fernando Valley.
“In my 13 years on the [LA] City Council,” he continued, “we have been able to create multiple parks along the LA River, grow an amazing bike network and show the city that these sorts of projects are not just possible, but can help bring communities together.”
Blumenfield secured several funding sources over the past few years to help fund the project, which cost $5.5 million, split between the city, county and the state. Multiple agencies helped create the park, including the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA); LASAN; the LA Department of Recreation and Parks; the city’s General Services Department; and LA County.
“Conservation in Los Angeles isn’t just about protecting open space in our mountains; it’s also about restoring nature in the heart of our neighborhoods,” said Miguel A. Luna, chair of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. “Caballero Creek Park shows how even an acre and a half can make a meaningful difference. … This is urban conservation in action.”