The City of Pico Rivera was awarded two grants totaling a little over $8.1 million, from the Clean California Local Grant Program, a program of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to improve local medians and parkways.
City staff applied to the State with two separate projects that involved the beautification and improvement of some of the City’s medians and parkways with plants, trees, irrigation, natural inorganic materials, art, and historical markers as well as remove and replace mature trees; improve parkways with trash cans, benches, trees, and wayfinding signage. Word was received last month that both submittals were approved for grant funding by the State’s Clean California Local Grant Program.
The first funded project will take place along the entire length of Rosemead Boulevard from the northern and southern City limits. Plans for this project include replacing the existing shrubs, ground cover, irrigation system, fencing, and dead/dying trees with new drought-tolerant plants and trees, a new high efficiency irrigation system, and new natural inorganic materials (decomposed granite, boulders, and cobble). This project received a total grant of $3,916,167.
The second project will be to beautify the median islands and some parkway areas along the entire lengths of Slauson Avenue, Washington Boulevard, and Whittier Boulevard, from the western and eastern City limits, and Paramount Boulevard from the northern and southern City limits. Median improvements for this project include replacing the existing shrubs, ground cover, irrigation system, and dead/dying trees with new drought tolerant plants and trees, installing a high-efficiency irrigation system, and using natural inorganic materials (decomposed granite, boulders, and cobble). This project received a total grant of $4,216,167.
For both projects, mature, overgrown trees will be replaced to prevent further damage to the roadways. Antilitter signs, artistic elements, historical markers, trash containers, iron bus benches, and wayfinding signage will also be installed or replaced along these stretches of road. Both of these projects will also entail parkway improvements that will include planting of trees to fill empty tree wells, adding shade, and improving walkability. Ultimately, the project improvements will prevent debris from building up, beautify the corridors, reduce water usage, and reduce the urban heat island effect.
In addition to the physical improvements, the City will launch a monthly “Keep Your Streets Clean” social media campaign and host a biannual community cleanup event. “We are very fortunate to have such dedicated staff seeking these grant opportunities for the benefit of our City and residents,” said City Manager Steve Carmona. “Even though they are just medians and parkways, enhancing them will positively improve the overall impression of our City and will improve the quality of life for our residents.”
The $296 million Clean California fund program was developed by Caltrans with the intent that the grants will go to local communities to beautify and improve local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, and transit centers to clean and enhance public spaces. Caltrans anticipates the combination of adding beautification measures and art in public spaces along with the removal of litter and debris will enhance communities and improve spaces for walking and recreation.
For more information about this project contact our Public Works Department at 562.801.4415.
