The Zev Yaroslavsky Los Angeles River Greenway Trail is being hailed as the “missing link” of the San Fernando Valley, but it’s so much more. It not only stretches from Whitsett to Coldwater, it provides a much-needed recreational opportunity for Los Angeles residents needing a reprieve from the bustling and congested city life by connecting them with the rich history and native landscape of Los Angeles.
This Trail is the largest greenway in the Valley and is part of the 51-mile stretch of the Los Angeles River. The new “River and Mountains” Entry Gate and “River Story” Fence Panels designed by Owen Gabbert will aid in connecting residents and visitors to the landscape’s history whether they take a short bike ride, stroll with a pet, or rest in one of the shaded seating areas.
The new entry gate with its spinning birds pays homage to the river’s origins at the Santa Monica and Santa Susana Mountains while the panels narrate the L.A. River’s history as a nexus between nature and human history, displaying representations of plant and animal life.
The river’s link to nature is evident in the over 3,000 native trees and plants to be found along the half-mile Zev Yaroslavsky trail where visitors can also see the variety of animal life attracted by the greenery, an effort by the city to restore the native ecosystem and habitat.
The trail offers a native forest, recreation in an area of the Valley that is short on park space, and also cleans and improves the quality of the water through a system of “bioswales” that catch polluted water.
The Zev Yaroslavsky Los Angeles River Greenway offers visitors a chance to trade in their cars for walking shoes, a bike, or a dog that will walk you, even if it’s only for a half-mile walking stretch.
