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LAPD Lawn Still Brown Two Months After Gala

By Eric Richardson
Published: Monday, January 11, 2010, at 04:56PM
LAPD Lawn Eric Richardson []

Tire tracks from heavy machinery used as part of setup and teardown for a November 7 gala are still visible on the lawn at LAPD's new headquarters.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Two months after a gala event at the new Police Administration Building caused heavy damage to the nearly one-acre lawn along 2nd street, neighbors are still left waiting for a fix.

The Police Foundation has promised to pay for the damage, but the timeline for getting a contractor in to replace the grass is uncertain. Also unclear is what is causing the lawn's dozen palm trees to wilt.

The park space at the new LAPD headquarters opened to the public in September, but was closed off for nearly two weeks around the November 7 "True Blue" gala. The heavy equipment used to assemble a large tent left deep tire tracks on the now-patchy brown lawn.

While the Los Angeles Police Foundation was quick to accept responsibility for the situation and its repair, getting the fix done has been a longer process.

The contractor who will be doing the work has surveyed the damage and will hopefully start the job in the next few weeks, said Thom Brennan, commanding officer of facilities management.

Most noticeable to those passing by is the poor condition of the 12 palm trees planted near the corner of 2nd and Spring, but Brennan said that the two are unrelated. The department is consulting with the city's Recreation and Parks department to figure out how to bring the trees back to health.

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Conversation

Guest 1

Brandon Lee on January 11, 2010, at 05:22PM – #1

That's too bad. Who's property is this? I hope they plan to plant something that will hold up the next time the LAPD has a gala.


Eric Richardson () on January 11, 2010, at 05:54PM – #2

The lawn belongs to the LAPD.


Don Garza on January 11, 2010, at 06:20PM – #3

I will gladly buy the fertilizer and the seeds..let's get the new LAP station looking the way it should...


Guest 2

Whitman Lam on January 12, 2010, at 12:46AM – #4

The lawn can be easily fixed. Top it with a new layer of grassy turf, water, and watch it take root.

The palm trees might be wilting due to fungal parasite. There's an epidemic of palm tree fungus that's ravaging the trees on the Westside. It's easily transmitted by birds or tree trimmers.

I would like to see a park with more wildflowers and natural plants. Getting tired of the non native palms and boring grass expanse. Something like Cornfield park would be nice.


User_32

Tornadoes28 on January 12, 2010, at 10:17AM – #5

They should install that artificial lawn that you are seeing more and more around town. It actually looks pretty good and doesn't require water. However, it may not be a good idea because of all the dog poop and pee.


Guest 3

Eric on January 12, 2010, at 12:15PM – #6

Hate the dog poop and pee...


Guest 4

Raven on January 12, 2010, at 03:52PM – #7

Unfortunately, I stopped paying attention to the lawn space. I only see dogs pooping on the dirt. And skateboarders sitting ... on the same dirt. It's a beautiful building and way too bad that the landscaping was nice only for the grand opening ceremonies.


Guest 1

Brandon Lee on January 12, 2010, at 09:13PM – #8

Why does the city continue to plant Palm Trees anyways, especially after the parasite problem? Why not plant native Oak Trees that actually can survive?


Guest 5

Mary on January 12, 2010, at 10:57PM – #9

The LAPD dog run is FABULOUS!


El Dabe Sherif on January 13, 2010, at 03:58PM – #10

lawn was a mistake in the 1st place. how about some drought resistant stuff that could handle more wear and tear?


Guest 6

First Street on January 13, 2010, at 07:05PM – #11

Why aren't the palms in the front suffering from the same parasite?


Guest 7

Duane Ruth on January 14, 2010, at 06:42PM – #12

That area should be designed with drought tolerant plants, DG paths, and syntehtic grass from SYNLawn. it wouild then be p[ermeable, virtually no maintenance and drought tolerant. It would also be made to accomodate dogs by design.

We just did the brand new banning Police Station and we do facilities like this downtown. ANyonwe interested should contact me at before more money is thrown into traditional platned landscaping and grass.

We can even finance the project over 5 years- there are ways to make this exceptional and if there is truly that much grass, then water savings can be brought in the range of 2 million plus gallons of water a year! They would also be elligible for as much as $20,000 in rabates for removing the grass.


Guest 8

DawnC on January 15, 2010, at 12:35AM – #13

Most of the other plantings around the police station are low water. I love the arrangement of succulents and grasses in planters with paths between them on the other side of the building. Though they aren't native, palms have come to represent California so I can see why they were used, I doubt the fungus is what's killing them usually that happens when they're trimmed and these were just planted.

It's nice to have grass but maybe artificial turf would encourage people to pick up after their pets? It's permeable so it can be hosed down once in a while to get the pee off.



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