TITLE
Recommendation to direct City Manager to request the Trust for Public Lands to pursue acquiring the Wrigley Heights property north of the 405 Freeway between the Los Angeles River and the Metro Blue Line tracks for the preservation of open space and incorporation into the Long Beach RiverLink plan.
DISCUSSION
The area of Wrigley Heights north of the 405 freeway is a valuable piece of open space in the City adjacent to the Los Angeles River. Currently used as a golf learning center, the property is identified as an integral component of the Long Beach RiverLink plan.
The RiverLink plan, as recommended by the City's Parks and Recreation Commission, identifies such beneficial community uses at the site as a riparian woodlands, wetlands, a bike trail connection and a picnic and overlook area.
This property will also serve as a link between the Wrigley Greenbelt and southern portion of the Wrigley Heights Park with the Dominguez Gap Wetlands, on which Los Angeles County is beginning construction immediately to the north of this location.
Recent discussion about possible development on this property provides some urgency for the City to make every effort to preserve this property as open space. The Trust for Public Land is a national non-profit land conservation organization that works with government agencies and community organizations to acquire and protect land for parks and protected natural areas.
It is important that the City work to identify the resources necessary to preserve this property as open space in a timely manner.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,