Hansen Dam Park Ground-Breaking Set

A ground-breaking ceremony Oct. 26 will mark the start of the long-anticipated revitalization of Hansen Dam Park, once one of the San Fernando Valley’s most popular swimming and picnicking areas, officials said.

During the ceremony, Los Angeles city officials and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the area and is overseeing the construction, will sign documents authorizing the revitalization work to begin.

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City), who represents the area and has led the efforts to set aside federal fund for the project, will host the ceremony.

The park borders on Lake View Terrace, Pacoima and Sunland.

Revitalization plans call for construction of a nine-acre boating lake and an adjacent 1.5-acre swimming lake--two projects that have been in high demand by neighbors since the 130-acre Holiday Lake at the park was closed and drained in 1982. That lake was clogged and polluted by debris and silt that has washed down from nearby canyons.

Using local and federal funds, the Army Corps of Engineers will begin the project by hiring contractors to excavate the lake and build an access road and parking lots. During the second phase of the project, beginning in April, 1995, crews will build a lake liner, restrooms and a filtration system for the lakes. The lakes should be open to the public by late 1996.