Canoga Park High School, located at the start of the Los Angeles River, and the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley launched the "How Green is Our Valley" campaign on June 5 by unveiling plans to turn an agricultural area at the school into the Community Learning Green Garden.
This environmentally friendly public park was made possible through a $500,000 grant from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation and will include a rainforest, walking trails, an outdoor learning environment with stations for organic farming and animal husbandry and a 280-seat amphitheater.
The new park will offer students engaging learning opportunities while serving as a recreational area for the entire Los Angeles community and an entrance into a revitalized Los Angeles River.
More than 900 community members - including students, business and educational leaders, California State Assemblyman
Lloyd Levine, representatives forL.A. Councilmembers
Dennis Zine and
Greig Smith, LAUSD board member
Tamar Galatzan, the Economic Alliance and Lowe's - attended today's project kick-off celebration.
Canoga Park High School received the Lowe's grant for the construction of the Green Garden, slated to start July 1 and finish with phase one of the project by November.
The garden is estimated to be a $14 million, multi-year project. The school, the Economic Alliance, Lowe's, other private companies, LAUSD, West Valley Occupational Center, Los Angeles Pierce College and California State University's Northridge College of Science & Mathematics will work collaboratively to create and design the project.
As part of the campaign, attendees were encouraged to take a "Green Pledge" that promotes going green and expanding a green economy in the San Fernando Valley.
The pledge also promotes using less gasoline, electricity and water; learning more about recycled products and conservation; creating sustainability by developing green products and buying products with less packaging; and getting educated about "going green" by joining an organization.
The Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley is a private non-profit economic development and marketing corporation that works with public and private stakeholders for the purpose of growing and sustaining the economic base of the San Fernando Valley and improving the quality of life in the five-city region of Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Los Angeles and San Fernando.