Green Paths to School -- Tree Planting Project

The councilmember worked with city beautification staff and three Council District 4 school communities to plant street trees in neighborhoods around the schools.
Plantings at three schools are complete. To see photos from a joint tree-planting at Third Street School and Yavneh Hebrew Academy, click here.

Robert Burns Park Improvements

The city has made Robert Burns Park a model of sustainability with drought-tolerant plants and a smart irrigation system that gauges soil moisture and sets watering levels accordingly. Recreation and Parks staff have installed a decomposed granite walking path and several shade trees as well as new playground equipment. Click here to read about the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Safe Routes to School

The offices of Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember LaBonge joined forces to obtain a $900,000 state grant to improve pedestrian safety around Thomas Starr King Middle School in the Franklin Hills. The grant covered the installation of sidewalk bump-outs around the school as well as safety education for the students. To read more about this project, click here.

Metro Rail Westside Extension Project

METRO has been meeting extensively with the public on plans for extending the existing subway westward.
Alternative plans - including one proposal submitted by Councilmember LaBonge - have been considered and added to the Draft EIR/EIS, currently under development. More information is available by clicking here.

John Marshall High School Track & Field

The John Marshall High School Barristers began playing on their new football field on October 23. 2009. Councilmember LaBonge lobbied for the project for years and secured more than $1 million in city funds to match state and school district funds to make the project happen. Click here to read about the opening celebration.

Whitnall Hwy. Beautification

Councilmember LaBonge is currently working with the City of Burbank on a shared reclaimed water line that will allow for the landscaping of the Whitnall Highway area and the Chandler Bike Path. At the urging of Councilmember LaBonge, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power plans to install a water conservation garden at this site.

Highland-Franklin Street Improvement Project

• Councilmembers Dedicate $3 Million Improvement at Busy Intersection

2450 Solar Dr. Acquisition

Councilmember LaBonge, chair of the Council's Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee, is working to raise funds to acquire a portion of this Hollywood Hills property for public open space.