The City of La Mirada is continuing its multi-phase median landscape project this Spring along Valley View Avenue. The work involves the removal of existing median improvements and construction of new median improvements including cobblestone, trees, shrubs, and ground cover which will enhance the look along Valley View Avenue.
California’s mandated water restriction required that potable water not be used to irrigate ornamental turfgrass on public street medians. This resulted in the die-off of all turf within the median on Valley View Avenue. Many of the existing mature trees within the medians were suffering due to the lack of irrigation, had reached the end of their natural life span, and invasive roots were raising the median level higher than the median concrete curbs and causing road damage.
The landscaping project area from Imperial Highway to Rosecrans Avenue includes 88 new trees, 3,456 new shrubs, and 2 types of ground cover in replacement of the 30 trees that were removed from the medians. The completed medians will have more trees planted in them than the number being removed. The trees will include a mixture of Australian Willow, Red Crape Myrtle, Fruitless European Olive, Canary Island Pine, and Fern Pine.
The City of La Mirada was recently named a 2020 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. La Mirada achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
The City of La Mirada contains an urban forest of over 13,000 trees. Recent city projects that have enhanced the community’s natural environment include the completion of median landscaping on La Mirada Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue, the planting of over 1,000 new trees citywide last year, and 120 new trees recently planted at the Creek Park Wilderness Area.
The Valley View Avenue median landscape project is expected to finish this summer. Once completed, Valley View Avenue will be repaved in the fall.
Source and Photo Credit: City of La Mirada