You may have noticed the front yard of Fire Station 29 at Wilshire and Van Ness Avenue has gotten a new look.
The installation of the Centennial garden in honor of the station’s 100th anniversary was completed last week. The garden was the vision of Lyn MacEwen Cohen, founder of the First-In Fire Foundation who had long wanted to improve the campus of Fire Station 29. The Hancock Park Garden Club co-sponsored the garden along with other contributions from CD4, Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, Windsor Square Association, Windsor Village Association, Wilshire Park Association, Hancock Park Homeowners Association, Loveland Carr Properties, Fremont Place Home Owners Association. Thanks to in-kind donations were made by Studio-MLA, and Norman’s Nursery, the new garden has been installed beautifying the station prominently located on Wilshire Blvd. Under the leadership of Captain Mike Telles, Fire Station 29 firefighters provided a huge assist by upgrading all irrigation on site.
Designed pro bono by Rebecca Schwaner of Studio-MLA, the garden will also serve as a neighborhood demonstration garden with water-wise, drought tolerant plants complete with an arroyo for channelling rain water. Plant materials are a mix of native and non-native water-wise plants that will support local wildlife and offer educational opportunities for the garden club to showcase how to use native plants in our local gardens.
The official unveiling of the garden is planned for February, allowing the newly planted garden to grow in a bit more before its official debut. And, because gardens are never truly finished, additional donations to the project are welcome. Funds will be used for additional plant materials, boulders and lighting. Visit Fire-Fire Foundation.org for more information or call at (323) 933-8164.
Below are photos of the installation and the completed garden.
