Heritage Trust Honored for Preservation Efforts

A statewide historic preservation group has presented its 1998 President’s Award for excellence in community preservation to the Highland Park Heritage Trust.

The California Preservation Assn. called the neighborhood group one of Los Angeles’ most active and successful preservation and revitalization organizations.

“Their strength lies in their enthusiasm, political savvy, unwavering dedication to their goals and their demonstrated effectiveness,” says the award, which was presented at a conference in Berkeley earlier this month.

One of the group’s biggest efforts during the last 15 years was to create a historic district in Highland Park. More than 60 local buildings have been designated historic and cultural monuments.

The group also helped reestablish Garvanza, the name of a local neighborhood that was in danger of being forgotten. In November, the city put up signs recognizing Garvanza, which was one of Los Angeles’ first suburbs and named after the wild pea that covered the hills.