Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook
Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us
Contact: Ron T. Suazo Office of Communications (310) 604-6529 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2013
CUSD & Community Partners Transform Once Empty Field Into Brand New, Three-Acre Compton Creek Natural Park New Recreation Area Is Connected to Compton’s Washington Elementary School - Sponsors Include the City of Compton, the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas & Voter-Approved Props A, 84, and 12 Funding COMPTON, Calif., — For over 480 Washington Elementary School students, the grass is finally greener on their side after their school’s grand opening of Compton Creek Natural Park, Wednesday, November 13. The new three-acre park, located behind Washington’s playground, is adjacent to the Compton Creek and its 3.3 mile bike path. It includes walking paths lined with young sycamore trees, grass fields, and a variety of plants and flowers. The park also features fitness equipment, picnic and seating areas, as well as an outdoor amphitheater designed for educational programs and community events. Constructed by youth job training nonprofit the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC), the new park is equipped for storm water treatment with the addition of natural retention basins, bioswales, and a 127,000 gallon underground cistern designed to store rainwater for irrigation. The park is the first step towards the city’s fulfillment of its 2007 Compton Creek Garden Master Plan; a 3.75 mile park system. In order to transform the once abandoned lot into a lush field of green, Compton Unified School District (CUSD) received support from the following partners and resources: the City of Compton, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), the Coastal Conservancy, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC), the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC), LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and funding from voter-approved Los Angeles County Proposition A, and state bond funds from Props 84, and 12. (MORE) “Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321