Sixteen pink-blooming trees now grace the upper Vermont Avenue medians, as a result of LFIA’s campaign to bring trees back to Griffith Park’s grand entrance. A special groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday, July 6th in the morning.

“We’re so grateful to now have a magnificent entrance to the park,” LA Recreation and Parks’ arborist Leon Boroditsky told the gathering. “Having these trees is like a love letter for the next generation.”

CD4 Councilmember Nithya Raman credited LFIA for “having a dream and running with it,” adding that the project showed how partnerships with the City can make things happen “lightning fast.”

LFIA’s Chris Laib orchestrated a fundraising campaign to bring the historic canopy back to the park’s gateway after Los Feliz resident and LFIA member Allison Hirsch made the suggestion to the nonprofit. Laib hit the ground running and partnered with LA Recreation and Parks and Los Angeles Conservation Corps to transform Hirsch’s concept into a reality.

LFIA’s president Amy Gustincic called the project a total community effort:  “This is so typical of how the Los Feliz community comes together to get the job done. We’re so thankful to all our donors and partners.”

LA City Urban Forestry designed the planting and selected the drought-tolerant Silk Floss and Pink Trumpet trees modeled after the planting last year in the lower two medians.

The Vermont Avenue medians were originally planned to be used for a streetcar service up to the park in the early 1900s, but those plans never materialized.  Since the 1910s, trees have historically been part of the medians.

 

Photo at top:  Park Ranger Ian Rotondo, Chris Laib, Allison Hirsch, Arborist Leon Boroditsky, Amy Gustincic, Lon Wahlstrom, Nithya Raman, Vickere Murphy, Seamus Garrity, Debra Matlock, Marian Dodge, Don Seligman, Helene Rotolo

Photos courtesy of Allison Hirsch and Michael Locke