South Park Plans, Garden to Phase In

The Hermosa Beach City Council on Tuesday unanimously decided to adopt improvements for as well as allow a temporary community garden to be installed at the park.

The Hermosa Beach Parks and Recreation Commission that a county grant be allocated to park improvements and the garden serve as a "test" to determine its place in the community.

"I like the concept of a temporary garden… this is a great way to test it out," said Councilman Michael DiVirgilio during the council meeting. "It’s cool to see it come to fruition."

Councilman Jeff Duclos said that he has worked with the ad hoc Hermosa Beach Community Garden Committee as it studied the idea of growing a community garden since last year in September.

"I’ve had the opportunity to work with this community group effort… in the U.S., a meal travels about 13,000 miles on average before reaching your plate," he said at the meeting. "I underscore that because it is why this has become such a huge movement. I think it will become an instant success in terms of the positive values that it brings."

As the Community Garden Committee tests out gardening in South Park, improvements to the area under the first phase of improvements have been proposed to include:

• the removal of bleachers;
• removal of the hockey rink;
• extended play area with a universally accessible play area for children ages 6 to 12;
• replacement of existing "tot lot" play equipment (see accompanying city staff report.)

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