George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon Closes for Sewer Pipe Repair

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon was closed starting August 3, due to sewer pipe repair work—reopening by Friday, August 11.

“Attention Palisades community: Due to a sewer issue, Potrero Canyon will be closed until further notice,” read a post on Palisades Recreation Center’s Instagram account. “Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Potrero Canyon reopened by Friday, August 11, after being inspected by city of LA Recreation and Parks Department officials.

The park closed due to the extent of sewer repair needed, according to Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board Secretary Maryam Zar. The sewage repair issue has been “ongoing for weeks,” with a park closure first going into effect on July 19 before reopening and closing again on August 3, according to Zar.

“We are told that what has clogged the lines is basic debris, nothing more insidious than that,” Zar reported. “We are told that the clog is due to debris from the park (trash/baseball, etc.). The sewage clog necessitated them to open a clean out point to manage the overflow.”

The Bureau of Engineering told Council District 11 they are working with the contractor, Ford EC, to “develop a comprehensive repair,” according to Zar, so that the repair is lasting and “any park closure doesn’t recur.”

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon officially opened on Saturday, December 10, 2022, after several decades in the making.

Since the passive park began welcoming visitors, several issues have been discussed—some of which have been addressed by park officials—including updating the operating hours to open at sunrise and close at sunset, standing water, slope erosion and trail fissures, and dogs being off leash. The park has been closed for previous spans of time since its opening for mitigation of some of these issues, like slope erosion, following winter storms this year.

The landscaping of George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon was discussed during the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Facility Repair and Maintenance Commission Task Force meeting, which took place in-person and via Zoom on Thursday morning, August 3.

“The landscaping phase of this project installed the final landscaping features within the canyon and is approximately 96% complete to date,” explained Kristen Ly, a civil engineering associate with the Bureau of Engineering and project manager of the park. “Our contractor is currently working on testing and commissioning of the pump station along Pacific Coast Highway. This pump station will ultimately recycle storm water from the bottom of the canyon and pump it up to the top where it will sustain the riparian habitat by running through park basins.”

The project team coordinated with the contractor to identify all anticipated change orders that will be needed to complete George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon, which will require an additional $1.6 million in contingency above the previously approved contingency. This includes “substantial costs” to repair storm damage in January, as well as a washout along the park access road near the project basins.

BOE will be requesting funds from allowance item number eight, which includes $500,000 that was previously designated to repave a portion of PCH in front of the mouth of the canyon.

“Since this access from PCH will be required for future phases of the project—such as a pedestrian trail and pedestrian overcrossing—repaving of PCH will be included in future fees and is not needed to complete the current phase of the landscaping project,” Ly reported. “We are, therefore, requesting that this allowance item be used for additional project contingency.”

The park was later mentioned at the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners meeting, when General Manager Jimmy Kim said that the superintendent for the region is working with the city attorney on proposed signage for the park. Several Palisadians spoke during the public comment portion of both meetings in support of the signs, including David Card, and Michael and David Wolfberg, sons of the park’s namesake.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Monday, August 14, to reflect that the park reopened.