BEVERLY HILLS—On Monday, March 12 Phase 3 of the Beverly Gardens Park Restoration Project commenced. New upgrades will include restoring park blocks along Santa Monica Boulevard from Beverly Drive to Crescent Drive and from Arden Drive to Doheny Drive.  Beverly Gardens Park is a 1.9 mile linear park in Beverly Hills that spans 23 blocks on Santa Monica Boulevard from Wilshire Boulevard to Doheny Drive.

According to a press release from the city of Beverly Hills, the Beverly Gardens Park Restoration Project was started in 2011 by Beverly Hills resident and businessman, Steve Gordon; restoration efforts began in 2014.  Gordon promoted restoring the park to its original condition with historic design elements and spearheaded a private fundraising effort to offset costs to the city of Beverly Hills. Donations of $4 million earmarked for the Beverly Gardens Park Restoration Project through the Beverly Hills Community Charitable Foundation contributed to the restoration of the century-old landmark.

Construction on the block from Beverly Drive to Crescent Drive, where the Lily Pond and Beverly Hills Monument Sign are located, will be closed for approximately 10 weeks to allow for new plantings, upgrade of irrigation system, enhanced protection for the monument sign and installation of pavers in the front of the Lily Pond.  With the monument sign and lily pond, as a popular photograph landmark in the city by visitors, other options for photo opportunities include:

-Heart Wall behind Alfred’s Coffee, 490 North Beverly Drive

-Will Rogers Memorial Park, 9650 Sunset Boulevard

-Electric Fountain, Intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard

-Beverly Hills Shield Sign at Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau, 9400 South Santa Monica Boulevard –Two Rodeo Drive, Dayton Way and Rodeo Drive

-Beverly Hills City Hall, 455 North Rexford Drive

-Bijan’s Car on Rodeo Drive

Updates will transpire to the Lily Pond in Beverly Gardens Park.

Intermittent blocks between Doheny Drive and Arden Drive will be closed to allow for construction, beginning with the block from Alpine Drive to Foothill Road, and four blocks between Arden Drive and Doheny Drive. The work will include demolition of site paving, new landscaping, new irrigation system, new decomposed granite walkways and lighting fixtures. The other eight eastern blocks will undergo construction later in the year.  Completion of the entire restoration project is anticipated for mid-fall of 2018.

For those interested in making a donation toward the Beverly Gardens Park Restoration Project through the Beverly Hills Community Charitable Foundation, contact Senior Management Analyst Stephanie Harris at (310) 285-2531 or SHarris@beverlyhills.org.  To obtain more information about the city of Beverly Hills’ charitable gift giving opportunities or to view a copy of the “Legacy and Charitable Community Gifting” brochure, visit www.beverlyhills.org/CharitableGifting.

Details about Beverly Gardens Park Restoration Project can be found at: www.beverlyhills.org/beverlygardensparkrestoration. Questions regarding construction should be directed to Public Works Customer Service at (310) 285-2467 or AskPW@beverlyhills.org.