Dear Brentwood Neighbors:
Many of you are aware that the beautiful strip of Coral Trees that line San Vicente Boulevard is in trouble. They have been overwatered for many years, and we are now seeing evidence of fungus, root rot and decay. Some will die by falling over, others will simply implode.
The problem is that Coral Trees and grass are a bad combination. Keeping one alive is always at the expense of the other, as the lawn requires a lot of water while the Coral Trees need very little. The Brentwood Community Council has been investigating ways to mitigate the damaging irrigation of the Coral Trees.
We are aware that these trees are important to the neighbors of the area and are, to many, the living symbol of Brentwood. Hundreds of people walk, run, jog and sit beneath the Corals each week. These trees are an invaluable and irreplaceable natural resource. In fact, the Coral Trees and San Vicente median are designated as a Los Angeles Cultural Monument (#148).
The City of Los Angeles has agreed to cooperate with us by reducing the amount of irrigation on the San Vicente parkway. On January 24th, 2010, the project began with a “test panel†using the median from 26th Street to Avondale Street. The sprinklers on the perimeter have been turned down so that they throw water only to the trees, and the center sprinklers have been shut off entirely. This will save a lot of water and improve the health of the trees.
We do, however, expect to see patches of brown grass by mid- summer in the center of the median. This is an experiment so that we can see how the median will look, and how the trees will respond. The City has recently approved covering the tree trunks with mulch. As the trees are no longer receiving irrigation, this will serve to keep them moist and to provide nutrients to the soil. Mulching is expected to take place this fall. We envision a community event where students, neighbors and local merchants all have a chance to participate in saving the Corals.
In addition, a design committee has been formed to explore attractive, drought-tolerant turf substitutes for the center of the median strip. There will be an opportunity for the community to weigh in as to their thoughts and concerns regarding the proposed changes. All jogging paths will be kept intact; they will be unchanged from their current state.
We hope to create a parkway that is truly 21st century and more sustainable in the face of increasing drought conditions. This is a large, potentially expensive and ambitious project. We need you, our neighbors, to step forward and help out. If you know how to write a grant, if you know of potential donors, if you are a potential donor, or if you are simply willing to get your hands dirty, please contact the BCC at:
brentwoodcommunitycouncil.org
