Pacoima Wash Natural Park

This five-acre nature park designed by BlueGreen is the first open space element of the future Pacoima Wash Greenway, a 3.5-mile long greenway along a flood control channel in the Cities of San Fernando and Los Angeles. The greenway will utilize the existing County access roads and several vacant properties along the channel that were acquired using State conservancy funds. The park serves as the northern access point to the greenway and features some of the natural riparian habitat that was typical to Pacoima Wash before urban development. The park space has three entry points that are designed to resemble small “placitas” for intensive use by the surrounding community. Placitas are small and compact to provide attractive amenities without otherwise distracting from the nature trail theme of the park. Two placitas are circular with tile faced seating areas and large shade trees planted in the center. The third placita has a massive shade arbor, overgrown with native California grape vines and provides a venue for celebrations and nature-oriented education. Materials were chosen to be compatible with the architectural legacy of the San Fernando Mission.
Under cover of the natural landscape the park intercepts stormwater from 33-acres of residential area and routes it through a sequential stormwater treatment train. The round placitas are designed and equipped to capture trash and sediment. The pre-treated stormwater is passed on to a “naturalized bioswale” that runs half the length of the park and resembles a natural creek. A trail and footbridge and large natural boulders are intended to provide the experience of walking along a natural stream with alders, sycamores, and cottonwoods for shade. The creek ends in a planted infiltration basin that incorporates a sand-media filter.
Client: The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
Size: 5-acre
Location: City of San Fernando
Completed: 2014

Visitors relax in shade provided by the native California grape trellis and custom shade structure at Pacoima Wash Natural Park.

Two large placitas in the park collect and treat stormwater, and divert it into the bioswale.

Stormwater treatment placitas double as public gathering space.