| Long Beach Green Belt Path |
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| los angeles bike paths | |
| long beach, california | |
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The Long Beach Greenbelt is different from the traditional notion of community recreational parks. Originally slated to become a block of self-storage units, it was instead transformed by community activists into an open space habitat for California native plants. GREENBELT HISTORY The site served for over half a century as a portion of the remain open space, and organized a group of community volunteers who planted the site, supervised by Department of Fish and Game botanist John Ekhoff. Some seven years later, the site is a viable habitat for urban wildlife. Coast live oaks, walnut trees, holly berries, atroplexes, sage, buckwheat, deer weed, and Golden Bushes provide examples of the approximately 40 native plant species currently thriving on the site. Urban wildlife observed on the site includes raccoons, possums, rabbits, skunks, rodents, grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, and lizards. Birds include everything from large birds of prey to hummingbirds. Tree mulch was spread, and continues to be spread, on the ground in order to recycle plant matter, suppress weeds, retain moisture, and provide an attractive appearance. ENTRY POINTS / PARKING Street parking is generally available on any of the streets surrounding the site, including Bennett, Roswell, Belmont, and Termino Avenues. However, most local residents prefer to go to the site by bicycle or foot, often accompanied by their pet dogs. The hard-packed soil along the paths is suitable for bicycle travel when it is dry, although the bumpy terrain is likely not suited for lightweight or road bikes. MAINTENANCE AND CURRENT CONDITION Following the disbanding of the Long Beach Greenbelt Committee, the site gradually decayed into a state of disrepair. Although intended to re-create a native habitat, the site requires maintenance for the sake of safety and meeting community needs in an urban setting. Plant overgrowth, intense substance abuse activity, frequent dumping of trash, and apparent attack of the many homeless camps by an arsonist, all contributed to the general decay of the site. The seven arson fires set on the Greenbelt upset homeowners and ultimately caused the City to contract with the Los Cerritos Wetlands Stewards (LCWS). The LCWS were already contracted to maintain several other of the City's environmentally sensitive sites, including Sims' Pond, Golden Shore, the Colorado Lagoon, and the Los Cerritos Wetlands. When the LCWS took over the care and maintenance of the property in August of 2004, the Greenbelt was in a badly degraded condition. The LCWS found and removed huge amounts of garbage, including the artifacts of substance abuse, and multiple homeless encampments. Community members consistently report satisfaction and delight with the maintenance and other upgrades occurring on the site, and the incidence of dumping and littering has greatly decreased. Many plants are trimmed or removed to increase the open feel and safety/visibility factors of the site. A dispenser for dog waste bags has been installed, along with trashcans. FUTURE PLANS The site continues to evolve; it is by no means completed. The LCWS are currently in the process of applying for grants and exploring other venue-raising revenues, to increase the beauty and species diversity of on-site native plants. The LCWS have a multitude of future plans to enhance the site, including the development and installation of plant palates to represent the different native watersheds of California. Motion detector night lighting and unobtrusive benches are also in the future plans. REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS |
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