Toluca Lake Beautification Partners (TLBP) is making progress on several ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing the neighborhood’s public spaces and creating more walkable, healthy environments for residents and visitors alike. Here’s an update on key projects the organization is actively pursuing.
The Lankershim Boulevard streetscape plan, encompassing 10 blocks from Riverside Drive to the north to Cahuenga Boulevard/L.A. River to the south, focuses on transforming the area into a vibrant corridor with upgraded crosswalks, street furniture, landscaping and more. The draft plan is nearly complete and is currently in circulation for public comment. Once finalized, it will be submitted to L.A. City Planning for review and ultimately included in the Southeast Community Plan update.
The organization is also working to establish the Cahuenga community garden on a remnant city parcel at the southeast corner of Cahuenga Boulevard and Addison Street, just north of Toluca Lake Elementary School. Bidding has commenced for the project, which includes raised planters, teaching and seating areas, shade canopies, native landscaping and a decorative fence.
In addition, the Vineland median revitalization project will remove grass, retrofit irrigation and add native and drought-tolerant plants to enhance the Vineland Avenue corridor in West Toluca Lake, south from Moorpark Street to the 101 Freeway. Designs by landscape architecture firm RELM Studio have been completed, and bidding has commenced. TLBP is also applying for the Adopt-A-Median program to officially begin the work.
Regarding state beautification projects, landscape design, engineering and construction teams are working with Caltrans District 7 to revitalize freeway ramps along the 101, 134 and 170 freeways with native and drought-tolerant landscaping, irrigation upgrades and community partnerships for ongoing maintenance.
The Forman Avenue project, more than a decade in the making, will add angled parking beneath the 134 Freeway in the Village, along with enhanced sidewalks, landscaping, lighting and a future mural program.
“These projects are a glimpse of what we can accomplish,” TLBP chair Ryan Altoon says. “Once the streetscape plans are approved, along with the Southeast Community Plan, TLBP will begin seeking grants and partners to implement improvements to the Riverside Drive and Lankershim Boulevard corridors — medians, bulb-outs, pedestrian lighting, specialty paving and additional elements that will reinforce the district and viability of the community.”
For the past decade, TLBP has operated as an all-volunteer organization, engaging volunteers and professional organizations to enhance the public realm. Altoon encourages residents to join the effort to beautify their neighborhood and surrounding areas. “We welcome our fellow Tolucans to get involved and participate on projects, cleanups and advancement campaigns, and share their talents with our broader community,” he says.
For more information on these initiatives and more, visit tolucalakepartners.org.