City Awards Grants to Spruce Up Areas

The Los Angeles Department of Public Works awarded the northeast Valley more than $40,000 in Neighborhood Matching Fund grants this week.

The annual grants help community groups that want to spruce up their surroundings but lack the money to do so.

Nine northeast Valley sites will be improved with the money. The projects include:

* A sign at El Dorado Elementary School in Sylmar.

* Irrigation and planting of 18 trees at Haddon Avenue Elementary School in Pacoima.

* Irrigation and planting of 28 trees at Langdon Avenue Elementary School in Panorama City.

* Meditation and learning garden at Pacoima Middle School.

* Irrigation and planting for 28 trees at Noble Avenue Elementary School in North Hills.

* Decorative concrete bus benches in Sun Valley.

* Planting trees and shrubs in North Hollywood.

* Tree planting adjacent to the Valley Shelter in North Hollywood.

* Sidewalk enhancement and tree planting at Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Pacoima.

“From planting trees to constructing student-designed bus benches to building a learning garden, these projects will make the northeast Valley a better place to live,” said Councilman Alex Padilla, who represents the area. “By working in partnership with local community-based organizations, the city is able to help make much-needed improvements to our neighborhoods.”