Full Notification

On Wednesday, October 15^th, the West Valley-Warner Center Chamber of Commerce will honor the Topanga Area Community Police Station for its T.R.U.E. – Topanga Restoring its Urban ecosystem – Project, at the Chamber’s Community Choice Awards Luncheon.

The TRUE Project represents a three year effort to transform the station’s failed landscape into a drought tolerant, California Native demonstration garden.  In 2011, the Topanga Station partnered with the Theodore Payne Foundation for California Native Wildflowers and Plants, and members of the Topanga Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB). 

Under the guidance of Lisa Novick, of the Theodore Payne Foundation, a new garden design was established and appropriate plants were selected that could survive the extreme heat and dry conditions experienced in the San Fernando Valley.  One significant design element of the new landscape was the creation of a large rain garden that directs roof and patio run-off into the ground, rather than perpetuating the erosion and mud flow that was in evidence prior to the existence of the TRUE Project.

In addition to the demonstration garden itself, in this time of drought, the Topanga Community Police Station has made the Community Room available for workshops open to community members to learn more about the need for and benefits of California Native Drought Tolerant Landscaping.

The TRUE Project was and is made possible through the generous donations of community and business members, the Topanga Boosters, and countless hours of volunteer labor.  The City of Los Angeles budget does not include funding for landscape renovation or maintenance.