State Adds $1 Million to Fund for South-Central Nature Center

Efforts to build the largest nature park in South-Central Los Angeles got a significant boost this week with an additional $1 million in state funds to pay for extra amenities such as amphitheaters at the 8.5-acre project.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which is building the park at the corner of Slauson and Compton avenues, plans to use the money to add two amphitheaters, a fountain, extra exhibit space for a nature center and an expanded ranger residence.

The added amenities were on the conservancy’s wish list but the project’s original $3.5-million budget--funded mostly from park bond measures--barely covered such park essentials as grading, irrigation and other facilities.

A joint budget committee meeting over the weekend in Sacramento set aside the extra money from Proposition 12 funds, the $2.1-billion bond measure approved by state voters in March. The park money was among $100 million the Legislature earmarked from the measure for urban parkland.

Describing the park as an unfinished jewel, conservancy officials could not contain their joy at getting the extra cash.

“We are so excited,” said Stephanie Landregan, the conservancy’s project manager.

The funding won’t be finalized until Gov. Gray Davis approves the state budget later this month, but conservancy officials say they have been assured that the governor supports the park funding portion of the budget.

When the park is completed in December, it will include rolling hills that have been formed on the flat terrain, using tons of soil that broke away from a Malibu bluff during a landslide two years ago and later were trucked to the new park site. Among the hills, the conservancy will add hiking trails, meadows, oak and sycamore trees, shrubs and a nature center.

The park is being built on a parcel that was previously used by the Department of Water and Power to store thousands of rusting pipes. The conservancy is leasing the parcel for $1 a year from the DWP.

The fenced-in lot is in a mostly industrial area, surrounded by recycling centers, auto shops, warehouses and fast-food restaurants.

The conservancy plans to offer nature walks at the park to teach inner-city children about the Southern California vegetation and wildlife that many rarely see in South-Central Los Angeles.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Rita Walters and state Sen. Teresa Hughes (D-Inglewood) pressed Davis and the Legislature to set aside the money for the park.

A spokesman for Walters said open space is in great demand in the inner city.

“To get 8.5 acres of new parkland in the middle of South-Central is just amazing,” said Rodney Collins, a legislative aide for Walters.

The idea for the park grew out of a dispute between the conservancy and Walters, who had questioned why her inner-city constituents should support the conservancy’s ongoing efforts to acquire Santa Monica Mountains wilderness. She argued that the agency wasn’t doing enough to provide her constituents access to the mountains.

In response, the conservancy proposed building its first nature park in South-Central.

Crews are finishing grading the site and are beginning to install storm drains, irrigation pipes and other underground utilities. The conservancy expects to begin planting the park’s grass and other vegetation next week.

The park also will display some home-grown artwork, provided by Art Share Los Angeles, a nonprofit arts incubator. Custom-made designs by two Los Angeles artists, Barry Wyatt and Robert Beckwaith, have been installed on the wrought-iron gates around the park.

Art Share Los Angeles is working with inner-city children to create nature scenes that will adorn the gate pilasters and the amphitheater.