ORCHID FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Jury Comments: Said one juror, “This project is another great piece of a much larger sustainable puzzle!” After years of abuse, 900 feet of Chollas Creek has been converted from an urban, concrete-lined channel into a wider, safer, more natural state. The project uses native plant materials to restore habitat, vegetated swales to treat runoff and pervious paving for accessible trails. It has become a people friendly place with new connections to adjacent neighborhoods and a trolley stop with seating areas and artful exhibits for interaction with nature along the way. This project is a great example of recent efforts to return our concrete drainage ways to the self-sustaining systems that our creeks were meant to be!

This project converted 900 feet of urban, concrete lined channel into a wider, safer, more natural creek, as part of the continuing effort to enhance Chollas Creek and restore it to a natural condition after years of abuse. The natural cobble creek bottom is made of stones excavated on the site during the grading. The native plant restoration, including three hydroseed mixes, container plantings, and large tree specimens, provides a natural setting for the creek. The riparian habitat restoration planting in the lower areas of the channel slope transitions to coastal sage habitat in the upper areas of the restoration. The design includes a curvilinear decomposed granite trail with seating, and interpretive exhibits designed by project artist Javier Guerrero. This project is a great example of sustainable design with vegetated swales treating runoff, and porous trail paving that is both accessible and pervious to storm water. The irrigation is temporary for 3 to 5 years to establish the plants, which are all native to the Chollas Creek drainage. These plants will live, grow and reproduce with natural rainfall, providing a natural succession of habitat for native birds, reptiles, and mammals. The project combines creek restoration, wetland mitigation, habitat creation, flood control and sewer improvements, with public education, art and an urban trail to help enhance this rapidly revitalizing urban neighborhood.

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