Representatives of the City of Glendale were among those present at the grand opening of Phase I of the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk on the morning of Dec. 12. The grand opening, at the corner of Paula and Garden Streets in Glendale, celebrated the completion of two small parks, an equestrian facility, a public art project, and half a mile of recreational trail. The public was invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and visit the Riverwalk parks and trail for the first time.

The City of Glendale’s Community Services & Parks Dept. also announced that Phase II of the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk project has been awarded a grant of $975,000 by the California Natural Resources Agency. Glendale was one of only 33 proposed projects selected statewide as part of Proposition 84’s California River Parkways program.

“We are extremely excited to have been awarded funds in this highly competitive grant program,” said director of Community Services & Parks Jess Duran. “This award is a reflection of the positive response from the state for the good work we have done on Phase I of Riverwalk, and indicates their belief in us to continue this work on Phase II.”

Phase II of Riverwalk, which is scheduled to begin design and construction next year, will extend the Phase I recreational trail east and south along the Los Angeles River to the Verdugo Wash. It will include an additional park, a river overlook, and a gated entry area. When Phase II of the project is completed, the City of Glendale will be the only city on the entire 52 miles of the Los Angeles River to devote its entire river frontage to recreation.

The completion of Phase II of Riverwalk will set the stage for Phase III which envisions a non-motorized bridge from Riverwalk across the river into Griffith Park, providing Glendale residents access to one of the largest urban parks in the country, and Los Angeles residents a gateway to all that Glendale has to offer.

In 2006, California voters passed Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act, which authorized the legislature to appropriate funds to benefit river parkway projects. These projects will create recreation opportunities for families, restore fish and wildlife habitat, provide flood management, and enhance California’s river parkways.

  Lukas LUKASSIAN