Glendale City Council has selected Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to lead the Verdugo Wash Master Plan guiding the transformation of the 9.4-mile-long tributary of the Los Angeles River into a connective linear park while preserving its role as functional flood infrastructure. MVVA was selected from a shortlist of five design studios.
Like the LA River, much of the Wash was lined in a concrete channel in response to devastating floods in the 1930s. This transformed the Wash, which travels through multiple Glendale neighborhoods, into a boundary. The Master Plan will study the potential for reconnecting the city with the watercourse to improve Glendale’s access to open space, potentially as a linear park or trail system.
The firm is joined by several LA-based collaborators with deep roots in the area including Kimley-Horn, Inter-Fluve, HR&A, Dyson and Womack, LimnoTech, Gardiner & Theobald, and Chief Strategies. The MVVA team also includes subconsultants for walkways and bridges (Schlaich Bergermann Partner), wildlife corridor planning (Rock Design Associates), biological resources (Rincon), and ecological design (Stratifyx) to ensure enhancement of the natural environmental features of the Wash.
Public outreach and community feedback will be of vital importance to the preparation of the Master Plan for the Wash. MVVA will collaborate with engagement experts at Chief Strategies and the City of Glendale to host a range of community outreach events such as workshops in different neighborhoods, site tours, and pop-up booths at City events. As noted during the City Council meeting, the Verdugo Wash Master Plan will span a three-year duration, including environmental review. This document will give the City a toolkit of options that can be used to guide the activation and programming of different Wash segments. The City Council will be consulted throughout the development of the Master Plan.
Images: Courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.