Project Funded by:
• Baldwin Hills Conservancy (Prop 40 funds)
• Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District (Prop A funds)
Designed and constructed by North East Trees, the Baldwin Hills Eastern Gateway Project brightens the La Brea Avenue entrance to the Kenneth Hahn Regional Park.
With the removal of over 1,000 square feet of a concrete storm drain, we created in its place a natural streambed bio-swale that drains into an infiltration basin.
BEFORE - the original concrete storm drain AFTER - natural streambed bio-swale
Stormwater now flows over natural soil and through new native plantings where it is cleaned using natural processes, and allowed to infiltrate into the ground. Whatever doesn't immediately soak in, is held in the infiltration basin at the end of the bio-swale where it can infiltrate slowly over a few days. Only during the largest storm events does the water fill up the infiltration basin and overflow into the original storm drain.
Infiltration basin at the end of the bio-swale
The concrete that was removed from the storm drain, instead of being hauled to a landfill, was recycled by our designers, and along with granite river rock, was used to build beautiful walls that define the upper streambed of this sinuous natural channel.
Recycled concrete and river rocks used to build the walls of the channel
North East Trees planted over 800 native plants and trees at this site, and installed a rustic wood-crete two rail fencing, wooden stairs and metal handrails to replace the dangerous steep dirt path entering the park. River rocks and large boulders enhance the aesthetics of this site.
North East Trees also irrigated and landscaped the long median on the east side of La Brea Avenue, which serves to blur the line between the residences and the park. Native sycamores, shrubs, boulders, a water efficient drip system, and a meandering decomposed granite and broken concrete walkway strikingly transformed this toxic strip of dirt and weeds into an unlikely idyllic setting inches from speeding motorists.
BEFORE - median on east side of LaBrea Ave AFTER - median on east side of LaBrea Ave