After a few rainy days, the sun was shining last weekend for a day of service to honor the late San Fernando City Councilmember Cindy Montañez, CEO of Tree People, and former Assemblywoman.
“Our day of service was a tribute to Cindy Montañez’s legacy of environmental advocacy,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas.
“We honored Cindy’s legacy and made progress toward creating a more lush and vibrant community park.”
Rivas spearheaded the event and was joined by City of San Fernando officials, the environmental nonprofit TreePeople, Montañez’s family including her mother Margarita and other community members.
Montañez passed on Oct. 21, 2023, at 49 years old after battling an aggressive cancer. She dedicated her life to serving disadvantaged communities.
“Cindy has left a legacy not only in San Fernando but across the state, especially through all of her environmental justice efforts throughout her life,” said San Fernando Mayor Celeste Rodriguez.
“She always reminded us that planting a tree isn’t only for now, but for generations to come. … So having a day to do all the things she encouraged us to do when she was with us, is just a really lovely way to honor her.”
As a fierce advocate for the environment, those who spoke noted it was only fitting that the community gathered at Cindy Montañez Park in San Fernando, to focus on park restoration and cleanup. TreePeople led educational nature walks before the approximately 60 community members planted trees and picked up litter to maintain a more vibrant park.
Montañez during her last days attended the park’s dedication, expressed her gratitude for the honor and requested that milkweed be planted to attract monarch butterflies.
“Families got to walk around and learn about different plants that are native to the area. I think it’s those little things that she wanted to make sure everyone knew and could appreciate – the natural land that was here before us,” said Rodriguez.
“It definitely felt like a Cindy Montañez day of service.”
Attendees also learned about the pedestrian bridge installed earlier this year, connecting the park across the Pacoima Wash. In 2022, Rivas secured $7.5 million in state funds in memory of Elias “Eli” Rodriguez, a local teen who drowned in the LA River. These funds supported the bridge’s construction and will also go towards creating a bike path along the wash, set to open this Fall.
San Fernando City Manager Nick Kimball said there is also landscaping focusing on bioswales and other water capture features incorporated into this phase of the park restoration project.
“It works perfectly having the Cindy Montañez day of service, because the beautification program, which these days of service grew out of, was one of the first policy efforts that she put forward when she was re-elected to the San Fernando City Council,” said Kimball.
Last year Rivas honored Montañez by designating her birthday, Jan. 19, as Cindy Montañez Day. Originally the day of service was planned to be in January, but was postponed due to weather. This was the first day of service in what is hoped to become an annual event.
“This is something that we plan to continue to have as an annual event so that we continue to honor the legacy of Cindy and her focus on environmental stewardship,” said Kimball.