Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-30
Magnificent Sunken
Gardens Included in
Plans of GarvanZa
and Highland Park
Residents
7 f the plans of Garvanza and High
land Park citizens are realized Ar
u rnNn Seco. with the proposed syS-

T f the plans of Garvanza and High
land Park citizens are realized Ar
4 royo Seco, with the proposed sys-
tenn of boulevards extending from Los
Angeles to South Pasadena, will be one
of the rarest parks and driveways in
the world.
The arroyo winds toward the uplands
from Los Angeles, following sinuous
course the slopes and hills rising above
the bottom of the ravine being studded
with timber, underbrush and luxuriant
wild flowers. In it's natural state it
presents a scene of wild beauty, and
when the flowers are in blossom reveals
"a beauteous confusion of color and it
is almost a certainty that it will be re-
claimed and perpetuated as raVine OF
great natural beauty
The residents of South Pasadena,
Garvanza, Highland Park and that por-
tion of Los Angeles adjoining old Gar
vanza wish to have the arroyo in all its
pristine beauty preserved and orna-
mented according to artistic concep-
tions To this end a meeting Of the
Highland Park Protective league will
be held Tuesday night, June !, in Car
vanza, at Pasadena and SfXty-second
avenues. This meeting probably VIII
result in some recommendations with
reference to developing the arroyo as Il
long serpentine shaped park, or series
of parks and boulevards.
Little Planting Needed
1t is said that it would not be neces-
sary for the city, or whoever under
takes the identifying of the arroyo, to
do much planting or transplanting. The
arroyo is sufficiently timbered as it
stands now. In fact it would be neces-
sary TO cut out much of the timber and
underground in order to give way Cor
artificial landscaping and beautifying
plans. The slopes of the hills. some.
times very pronounced, sometimes of
less harsh angles, the valley now
widening to the extent of several hun
dred yards, and the easineSs with
which landscaping can be carried for
ward are factors which will have great
weight when the question reaches the
stage where final solution is in order.
AT Garvanza, for instance, where the
Santa Fe bridge crosses the arroyo at
Avenue 81, there is a basin with an
area of about thirty acres which, be-
yond the possibility of dispute, affords
the finest site for a sunken garden that
could be found in Southern California.
This basin now, however, is largely set
tied I'D with homes, including the resi-
dences of about thirty property owners
and nearly score of bungalows and
cottages. The arroyo proper passes to
the north of this basin.
City to Annex Ground
The county owns a tract of six acres
between Pasadena and Piedmont ave-
nues, north of Avenue 81, which will be
turned over to the city and will be
made into park. The tract is TRAN
gular in shape. The basin, where a
sunken garden of immense proportions
and great beauty could be created. is
near this point, being about square
northwest. There is property on the
other side of the arroyo at this point
which it is understood the city will
annex if the park plan Is carried out.
This being done. the Santa Fe bridge
would pass through that portion of the
park and the sunken garden would be
plainly visible from the cars on the
bridge.
The improvement clubs, civic bodies
and other organizations of Garvanza
and South Pasadena are working on
plans whereby the city of Los Angeles
and South Pasadena can enter a joint
plan of converting the arroyo into
park and boulevard route. The arroyo
extends from Los Angeles into the up
lands as far as Devils Gate. Being
transformed into park and boulevard,
it would become one of the most fam
Gus and beautiful drives in the world.