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Work On Downtown Garden Highlights Pacific Avenue Improvements by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 02.09.11 |
+  A bright red metal caterpillar has been newly installed on new fencing that lines the Pacific Avenue Garden in downtown Long Beach.  2:49pm | Caterpillars are nothing new in a garden flush with plots of soil and vegetation, but the bright red, fifteen-foot version is far less common.That's what greets you as you enter the Pacific Avenue Garden, the only community garden in downtown Long Beach and a centerpiece of the Pacific Avenue Taskforce that aims to incorporate numerous downtown improvements over the next year. "Pacific looks way better and different and more vibrant today than it did a few years ago and will continue to do so," said 1st District Councilmember Robert Garcia, whose office hosted the event. The taskforce already counts street repaving, painted utility boxes, new bike racks and other projects as its successes, with many more similar ideas planned.  At right: Pedro Costa of the North Pine Neighborhood Alliance (NPNA) and Councilmember Garcia address the crowd.At the moment, the caterpillar is the most prominent addition to the nine-year old community garden that is in need of a facelift. The fencing is new and so are painted electricity boxes, but there is more work to do. A dynamic mixed-media mural looks down on faded garden plots, though officials say that fixing these is the next step. The taskforce has already injected more than $1 million into Pacific Avenue, according to Garcia, using a combination of private, federal and city resources. That money has taken the form of small improvements like electricity boxes and large improvements like updates to downtrodden apartment buildings. The goal is to improve the street from Broadway to Anaheim (street repaving has been completed to 7th Street and the next phase will complete the repaving to Anaheim). The garden is used by residents of the nearby Pacific Towers and a few senior community members. Joe Corso, of Long Beach Organics, took the job of garden director one year ago. "It's just a perfect fit and we're so grateful that this was literally done for us," he said. "Our goal is really to quilt garden space across the city." Click here to view our policy covering the Long Beach City Council.
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7 Comments so far.
Emily I live across the street from the garden. It looks wonderful. A big thank you to everyone involved. JanLadyBug I have been noticing all the great changes on Pacific Avenue. Thanks to Garcia for getting us money to pave the street and for the banners. Can't wait to start gardening. Gardener There is another community garden and 1st and Elm. Matt Miller Nice project. I saw them put up that art piece, it looks pretty cool. The street does look better. David You know what would be great to go with that garden? An instruction manual, complete with pictures and supply lists. The community could create guidebooks, and diagram the various plant groupings that can be grown together in the various planters. "Cookbooks" of seeds and other needs like fertilizer could be included. Also, the addresses of local places to get those things (Armstrongs, Home Depot, etc) would be great. MzMM kudus to mr garcia for his ongoing efforts and accomplishments with beautifying and improving his district! Kenny I've heard people criticize Garcia, but it's small projects like these that really make a difference. I live in the 3rd district and my council member won't even respond to emails I've sent let alone go out of his way to work on small community projects like this. Go Robert!
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LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.
Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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