Malibu launches Legacy Park construction

• Groundbreaking ceremony on innovative stormwater and environmental restoration project

Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich, Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Barovsky, Councilmember John Sibert, Mayor Andy Stern, State Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, State Senator Fran Pavley, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Councilmember Jefferson Wagner and former Councilmember Ken Kearsley.MALIBU, CA, Sept. 21, 2009 -- The City of Malibu today launched the construction of its much anticipated Legacy Park Project, the centerpiece of the City's more than $50 million commitment to clean water. Against a backdrop of surfers with surfboards signifying cleaner oceans, elected officials, donors, Malibu residents and business leaders celebrated the groundbreaking as City officials dug their shovels into the ground and turned over the first few piles of dirt.

"Legacy Park is going to act as Malibu's environmental cleaning machine," said Mayor Andy Stern. "It will reduce pollution from stormwater, improve the City's water quality and allow residents to enjoy the health and recreation benefits of an open space area and a clean ocean that everyone should have at their fingertips."

Richard Davis and Cal Porter (prominent surfers also known as "Pioneer Watermen").One of California's most innovative stormwater and urban runoff projects, Legacy Park is going to transform 15 acres in the heart of Malibu into a central park that will benefit the community for decades to come. This central park will capture more than two million gallons per day of stormwater and urban runoff that flow from the surrounding watershed so it can be cleaned, disinfected and recycled. The project will also restore and develop important riparian habitat and create an open space area for passive recreation and environmental education. In addition, it will provide a living learning center for six coastal habitats.

Mayor Andy Stern, State Senator Fran Pavley, Asemblymember Julia Brownley and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky were among speakers lauding the city and recognizing Legacy Park being an important step toward the City's commitment to improve ocean water quality - specifically in Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon and the world-famous Surfrider Beach - and provide an ecologically friendly environment for residents and visitors to treasure.

Kaden Lehne, Tea Petretti, Councilmember Jefferson Wagner and Teigue Lehne.Legacy Park is scheduled to be completed by October 2010 and has undergone a comprehensive environmental permitting and design process, which included extensive public review and participation. The project's design team included some of California's most respected engineering, stormwater, wastewater and environmental restoration experts.

A technical advisory committee, composed of environmental and scientific community specialists, provided extensive input, resulting in several specific innovative design elements being included in the project, such as harvesting the stormwater within the Civic Center watershed area and recycling it for park irrigation and utilizing natural biological filtering processes to remove sediments from the stormwater.

In addition to the Legacy Park and other stormwater projects, the City of Malibu is preparing plans for a centralized wastewater system for its Civic Center area, authorizing $2.6 million in January 2009 for design and engineering.

The City of Malibu was incorporated on March 28, 1991. Located in northwest Los Angeles County, the City has 21 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean and a population of 12,575. For more information on the city and the project, please visit http://www.ci.malibu.ca.us/ and http://www.malibulegacy.org/.

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