I am pleased to announce that this past Friday, for the first time in modern history, there is a sign welcoming visitors to El Sereno. The Monument dedication ceremony honored El Sereno at a busy thoroughfare serving 40,000 commuters daily. I want to thank the Community Redevelopment Agency, the Bureau of Street Services, the El Sereno Gateway Monument Advisory Committee and the residents of El Sereno for their help in getting this monument built.
This all comes to a town that was originally established in 1771—a full decade before the City of Los Angeles. The El Sereno Gateway Monument is not just a marker for the Historic El Camino Real and Route 66, but also a reminder of the importance of pride in one’s community and city. The special design of the sign pays homage to the community’s iconic hillside and is just one of many upgrades Huntington Drive has seen recently, including decorative sidewalks, business façade upgrades and street and crosswalk improvements designed to increase pedestrian traffic.
Other recent improvements include the Valley Boulevard Bridge, which ends 35 years of frustration by allowing commuters to avoid up to 30 freight-train crossings per day. Phase II construction on Ascot Hills Park is currently underway, which will make it the largest City-run open-space park on Los Angeles’ Eastside when it is completed in early 2011. I also helped the City purchase 19 acres of land on Elephant Hill, which will protect the land as open space.
Enjoy the slideshow and video of the event.
