Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti today announced grantees who are receiving awards through his Clean and Connected Communities initiative. The program is providing grants of up to $2,500 each to neighborhood beautification projects such as murals, anti-graffiti efforts, and community gardens.

“I was pleased by the number of creative proposals that we received. I’m looking forward to working with the grantees to ensure their project’s success. They will be great additions to our neighborhoods,” said Council President Garcetti.

Clean and Connected Communities grants are being awarded to all applicants whose submission materials were complete and projects met the basic requirements. Garcetti’s office also limited the number of grants awarded in cases where an applicant or its partners submitted multiple projects. Because all eligible applicants are being awarded, there will not be a community voting process as originally announced.

Neighborhood stakeholders — including neighborhood councils, school organizations, Neighborhood Watches, and non-profit organizations – were encouraged to collaborate and apply. All projects are located in Council District 13 and make physical improvements in neighborhoods.

View a complete list of the grantees.

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti today joined members of the Historic Filipinotown community in celebrating the grand opening of the new park at the intersection of Rockwood and Colton. The park features new landscaping, a children’s play area, and solar-powered lights.

“What a great day for Historic Filipinotown as we celebrate the newest addition to our community – a place for families to gather and for children to play,” said Council President Garcetti. “It’s hard to believe that this beautiful park was once an empty, contaminated lot filled with trash and covered in graffiti.”

“What an absolute joy it was to see the transformation of this trash strewn, god forsaken lot into a place of beauty, joy and laughter. Kudos to the landscape artist’s triumph over the limitations of a relatively small and almost vertical piece of land. Thanks to CD 13 for this gift to the community,” said Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, a Historic Filipinotown resident and business owner.

The park is located in the heart of the Los Angeles Oil Field where the city’s first successful oil well was drilled in 1892. The property was cleaned up through the City of Los Angeles’s Brownfields program and funded by federal Environmental Protection Agency grants. Voter-approved Proposition 12 and Proposition 40 bonds funded the acquisition of the property and construction of the park. The project also received QUIMBY funds. The total cost of the project was approximately $2.9 million.

“The Bureau of Engineering is pleased to partner with Council President Garcetti and the Department of Recreation and Parks to make this project a reality. It is very rewarding to bring additional green space and recreation amenities — such as walking trails, picnic tables and children’s play areas to the community,” commented City Engineer Gary Lee Moore.

“I am excited to open another park for the community to enjoy. This park offers many wonderful amenities for people of all ages. I hope the community takes advantage of this new jewel in the City of Los Angeles,” said Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager Jon Kirk Mukri.

Pedestrian thoroughfare will be the first of its kind in Los Angeles

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti and leaders from the Hollywood community today broke ground on a project to transform the alley behind local businesses into a safe, thriving pedestrian thoroughfare. Located west of Cosmo Street between Hollywood Boulevard and Selma Avenue, the pedestrian alley will be the first of its kind in the City of Los Angeles.

“Today we begin the Cahuenga alley’s transformation into a thriving pedestrian environment where locals and tourists alike can come to relax and enjoy our beautiful weather. It’s going to be great for business and great for Hollywood,” said Council President Garcetti.

The alley’s concept was developed with local property owners and business tenants and will be an outdoor open space for visitors to stroll, relax, and enjoy outdoor dining options and patio space. The project will include major rehabilitation and construction in the alley, including the addition of new drainage, lighting, pavement, and a security system. The existing potholes, pools of stagnant water, and orphaned dumpsters will be removed as part of the project.

“The Hollywood Property Owners Alliance is proud to be part of this unprecedented partnership that is creating a new walkable, public space that will help attract more visitors to our local businesses. This project demonstrates the innovation and creative solutions that can result when Hollywood’s business community works together with city agencies,” said Hollywood Property Owners Alliance Executive Director Kerry Morrison, whose organization is helping to lead the Cahuenga alley project.

“Even before any shovel went into the ground, the Cahuenga alley project caught the attention of a restaurant owner who, as a result, leased space in my building. When people can come walk around and dine in the alley, this unique outdoor space will remind business owners and customers alike why Hollywood is the star of Los Angeles,” said President of the East Cahuenga Corridor Alley Association David Gajda, who owns property along the alley.

The estimated cost is $790,000, which includes regrading and realigning the storm drain system, and will be funded through Community Redevelopment Agency funds. In addition, adjacent property owners and businesses will install landscaping and decorative lighting and the Hollywood Property Owners Alliance will provide security and maintenance services funded by its “alley assessment.”

“This is a great public private partnership that further burnishes Hollywood’s reputation as a destination for shopping, dining, entertainment and more,” said CRA/LA Hollywood Regional Administrator, Leslie Lambert. “We are so pleased, at the CRA/LA, to help bring this project to reality.”

“This project reflects our emergence in green alley design and construction. I am proud of the Bureau of Engineering for this innovative approach to stormwater pollution, and our sustainable efforts to improve the quality of life for the people of Los Angeles,” commented City Engineer Gary Lee Moore.

“This is a wonderful project for the Hollywood business community. The Department of General Services is very pleased and honored that GSD Construction Division was selected to construct this project,” said General Services Department General Manager Tony Royster.

The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2011.