Downey chooses contractor for park upgrades

DOWNEY - The City Council awarded a $400,000 contract to South Bay Landscaping on Tuesday to renovate Treasure Island Park in northwest Downey.The state awarded Downey a $400,000 grant to complete the renovations after concluding that Treasure Island Park was "not environmentally sustainable due to its high demand for water, fertilizers and pesticides required for its operational maintenance." Renovations at Treasure Island Park, which is located between the Rio Hondo River and Treasure Island community, will emphasize water conservation, open space, habitat preservation, recreation, flood protection and more, city officials said. The park currently consists mostly of turf. Other park improvements call for increased security lighting, native landscaping, irrigation system enhancements, new signage, a granite walking path, and "concrete mow curbs" for future playground equipment. Eventually, when more money is available, the city hopes to install picnic shelters, bridges along the walking paths, barbecues, decorative rock cobble and boulders, and playground equipment. Public works director John Oskoui said the city is already searching for funding sources. South Bay Landscaping is based in Inglewood and has completed similar projects in Paramount and for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

********** Published: June 28, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 11