The Park Recreation Commission was told June 18 that construction of the Hollyfield Community Garden is set to begin June 29 after the City Council awarded a construction contract May 27.
Staff said the project is funded through LA County Measure A allocations and a park development fund made up of developer fees, meaning no general-fund dollars are required. Construction is expected to be quick — roughly 60 days — and the finished garden will include a decomposed-granite surface and more than 40 raised beds. The Los Angeles Community Garden Council will assist with registration and roster management while city staff will manage day-to-day operations.
Why it matters: the garden converts park space into community-managed plots and uses dedicated Measure A funding, which the department said requires the project to be open to county residents rather than restricted to Montebello-only enrollment.
A staff member, introducing the item, said the council had awarded the contract on May 27 and confirmed a June 29 start date and the two-month construction window. When a commissioner asked who could participate in the garden, the staff member said the garden is intended for neighborhood residents and that, because Measure A money is being used, officials "can't restrict it to just Montebello residents" and that "it's 100% for the community to be involved." The staff member also said the garden is not intended for city staff plots.
The commission was told the project has passed the council contract step and will move to site mobilization at Hollyfield Park at the end of June. Staff did not name the construction contractor during the presentation. The department said it will return with operational details and registration instructions once the roster and management agreements with the Los Angeles Community Garden Council are finalized.
The commission took no formal vote on the garden during the June 18 meeting; the item was presented as a staff communication describing the contract award, funding and schedule.