Renewed wonder for the tranquil eucalyptus grove in Rustic Canyon took center stage Thursday, May 29 during its re-dedication ceremony.
Over the last 15 years, the historic horticultural site received an irrigation system from the Department of Recreation and Parks and several passionate Santa Monica Canyon and Pacific Palisades residents put in a labor of love to restore the grove and to prevent future development proposals for the area.
“There are 900-plus types of eucalyptus,” said George Wolfberg, president emeritus of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association. He added the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club helped pay for some of the infill for the dirt pathways in the grove.
“Milkweeds line the path and were planted in three different places,” he said. “It’s the main feeder for Monarch butterflies.”
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Abbot Kinney, founder of Venice and developer of the Venice Canals, planted the grove in 1880. In 1950, the city acquired the land spurred by fundraising by the SMCCA. The grove is part of the first U.S. Forestry Station, and it is a city and state landmark.
Late historian and Canyon resident Betty Lou Young began the restoration outreach efforts by forming the Park Grove Committee. The Young family, including her son and current historian Randy Young, carried the restoration effort forward with financial support. Also, funding came from the Friends of Scott Gerwehr, who died in a tragic car accident on Sunset Blvd.
The city installed a permanent, automatic irrigation system into the grove, replacing an outdated system with the latest water-conserving utilities, such as stream rotor nozzles, pressure-regulating sprinklers and a weather-based automatic irrigation controller.
Forty new trees were planted in the grove, along with perimeter shrubs, a reflective boulder seating area, a wooden trellis and a stone arbor.
SMCCA members also credited the work of local landscape designer David Card, who created a tree map of the grove with the help of the Pacific Palisades Historic Society. Credit was also given to residents Dale Skinner, Ed Lowe and Chris Casady for their involvement.
“This place was in peril all the time,” Young said, noting at one point there was a freeway prepared to go through that section of the canyon. “The spirit of this place is so miraculous.”
Councilmember Mike Bonin attended the ceremony, thanking the Canyon residents for partnering with the Department of Recreation of Parks.
“We’re merely stewards of the environment we live in,” Bonin said.
Kevin Regan, assistant general member to the Department of Recreation and Parks, said he grew up in the Canyon and remembers walking in the grove.
“I always remember how quiet this place is in the morning,” he said. “And you should see it when it rains here.”
Children from the Rustic Canyon Coop Nursery School said the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the rededication ceremony.
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