WB Inglewood Fire Station 171 OFG
After many months of design and negotiation, the planting began today in earnest at the first West Basin Ocean Friendly Demonstration Garden Project in Inglewood, CA at Fire Station 171. The all-female camp crews are rocking (no pun intended) this landscaping project by providing the needed labor to plant the native trees and shrubs. These crews are strong, motivated, and interested in learning the skills of planting and tending the natural environments they are so often struggling to save when assisting fire fighters during forest fires.
Ron Durbin, Deputy Forester, LA County Fire Dept.
Under the direction of Ron Durbin, Deputy Forester, Malibu Forestry Unit, LA County Fire Department, the camp crews sighted and planted multiple California native oak (Quercus agrifolia) and sycamore (Platanus racemosa) trees in the front of the Fire Station 171 building. Over the past several months, the site had been prepared with the removal of several non-native eucalyptus and silk floss trees, an oleander hedge, and weedy warm season turf grass. The crews graded the site to emphasize the catchment of rain water for the benefit of the planned new trees, and laid river rock of various sizes to indicate the path of the water during a storm.
G3 Founding Member, Marilee Kuhlmann led the design team, including G3 Associate, and Licensed Landscape Architect, Alison Terry, in designing a natural woodland garden which is likely to become a much-needed refuge for native birds and butterflies. Marilee’s sensitive and thoughtful design was based on a several-years-old conceptual plan provided by Ron Durbin, who is trained as a landscape architect and is currently managing growing and grounds improvement at the LA County Fire Department’s Prevention Bureau – Forestry Division, Malibu Forestry Unit. Many of the trees were grown by Ron and his team for post-fire restoration. Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano provided the balance of the tough native shrubs and perennials for the garden.
Planting Trees at Fire Station 171
Fire Station 171 is the first of ten Ocean Friendly Demonstration Gardens that will be designed by G3 as part of a CA state grant secured by West Basin Municipal Water District and Surfrider Foundation to support the Ocean Friendly Landscape Program in West Basin territory.
West Basin’s Gus Meza and Leighanne Kirk At Inglewood OFG
Cities throughout the Water District have been encouraged to partner with West Basin to provide resources for matching the grant funds to have a demonstration garden built in their area. The Ocean Friendly Demonstration Gardens demonstrate Surfrider Foundation’s principles of C.P.R. (Conservation, Permeability, and Retention), and uniquely pair the desires of the water supplier to see reduced water use with the desires of the environmental group to see dry and wet weather pollution prevention. Since this garden is being built at a Fire Station, the principles of Firescaping also are being employed.
Inglewood Fire Station 171 Before OFG
Check out the before picture, and then stop by any time over the next few weeks to see the completion of this beautiful and educational landscape.
The OFG is located at 141 West Regent Street, in the heart of downtown Inglewood near the Courthouse, City Hall, and across the street from Crozier Middle School.
