Funds to rebuild roads, sidewalks, the water system and other facilities located at the Canyon Park that were damaged during the 2020 Bobcat Fires and the 2021 mudslides have been secured by Assembly Member Chris Holden.
On July 10, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 102 which included an appropriation of $2 Million for the Canyon Park Restoration Project.
To both residents and visitors’ dismay, the park — like many throughout the San Gabriel Wilderness — has remained closed as the city works to recover the land after the 2020 Bobcat Fires and the 2021 mudslides. Before the natural disasters, the popular gateway into the Angeles National Forest saw an average of 250,000 visitors a year.
“I think everyone is completely understanding as we as we’re now getting to this point where we actually get to rebuild,” said City Manage Dylan Feik.
Feik said the city contracted with Pokrajac Corporation to facilitate the debris removal within the closed 80-acre city park with trails and waterfalls, plus a nature center and cabins. The park had breifly reopened in August 2021 before being hit with heavy rainstorms that caused two winter mudslides. The storm caused a water main break in the park and falling boulders led to extensive damage, closing the park for good.
The city is coordinating with county, state and federal groups as the project goes on including LA County Flood Control, Federal Emergency Management Agency and California Office of Emergency Services. To date, the city approved $4.7 million — reimbursed by the state and FEMA — for costs associated with debris removal and clean up on Canyon Park and Lower Clamshell Trail.
Merrill Johnson, the city’s contract city engineer, oversees the design engineering of the project and, according to Feik, estimates the deadline for stakeholders to submit a bid for the reconstruction project will end in late August so that City Council can vote by September.
Feik added that in total the…
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