Input sought on recreational options for portion of L.A. River closer to Glendale

The public will have an opportunity this week to weigh in on potential options for opening the Los Angeles River to kayaking and other recreational activities closer to the Glendale border.

Local and federal officials are reviewing recreational opportunities for a proposed five-mile stretch of the river, including non-motorized boating, hiking and fishing, that would be allowed from May 27 to Sept. 2.

The river route, which features egrets, ducks, lush greenery and views of the San Gabriel Mountains, is slated to begin at North Atwater Park in Los Angeles, just outside Glendale’s borders.

Unlike most of the Los Angeles River’s concrete bottom, water along the Glendale Narrows flows over soft dirt.

For two summers now, people have been able to kayak on a portion of the river near the Sepulveda Basin.

The public input meeting is scheduled to take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens.

While the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk — a city of Glendale project that includes a 1.5 mile trail along the river — is not connected to the area that the Los Angeles River Cooperation Committee is reviewing, but it won’t be far off.

Pedestrians and bicyclists will be using the riverwalk trail about three-quarters of a mile from the river route’s proposed starting point once the second phase of the project is complete. The first portion of the riverwalk, which opened last month, begins near Paula Avenue and Garden Street.

The Los Angeles River Center is located at 570 W. Avenue 26 in Los Angeles.

For more information about the proposed recreational river program, visit www.lariver.org.

-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News

Follow Brittany Levine on Google+ and on Twitter: @brittanylevine