Date: March 3, 2022
District: 12 – Orange County
Contact: Christianne Smith
Phone: (424) 413-1104
Caltrans Announces Local Projects Receiving Part of the Nearly
$300 Million in Clean CA Grants
All the projects will benefit underserved communities
ORANGE COUNTY – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement this week of $296 million in Clean California grants to underserved communities throughout the state, Caltrans will locally fund three projects in Orange County to remove trash, create jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces. The grants are part of Governor Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces.
“Caltrans will incorporate sustainable landscapes and facilitate beautification projects in the communities that need it most,” says Ryan Chamberlain, Caltrans District 12 director. “I look forward to working with local partners to bring these projects into fruition.”
The projects include a wide range of community enhancements for cities, counties, transit agencies and tribal governments to beautify public spaces, such as litter removal, landscaping and art installations, walking and bike paths, and other complete streets features that enhance safety and access to transportation. The grants will generate 3,600 jobs statewide, and recipients must complete their projects by June 30, 2024. The Governor’s California Blueprint proposes an additional $100 million to fund another round of Clean California local projects.
Projects located in Orange County include:
- Anaheim: North La Palma Green Promenade, Paseo and Parking Lot
The North La Palma Parkway will be transformed into a thriving and attractive pedestrian and bicycle friendly, tree-lined, one-way promenade. The park will be extended along Swan Street, which will have greening elements. Underserved communities will especially benefit from the safer active transportation facilities, improved connection to transit, and increased access to La Palma Park as well as access to two of the city’s busiest commercial corridors. The project will be complemented by public education efforts on anti-graffiti and anti-littering.
- Huntington Beach: Oak View Neighborhood Cleanup & Beautification
The Oak View Neighborhood project will improve walkability and promote a stronger sense of community—especially for the students and families of Oak View Elementary School—through cleaner and more beautiful streets, increased outdoor amenities, and reduced urban heat island effect. This project will develop recreational areas, a habitat garden, and improve safety for pedestrians. Improvements include drought-tolerant planting and irrigation, pedestrian lights, sidewalk paving, curb ramps, tactile warning strips, and artistic crosswalk painting and signage. To deter future litter and vandalism, public outreach efforts will be made through a social media campaign, “Keep Your Neighborhood Clean and Beautiful”, and through monthly events to collect residents’ bulky waste.
- Santa Ana: King Street Urban Greening Project
An underutilized 9,000 sq. ft. parcel, subject to frequent flooding and illegal dumping, will be converted into a recreational space benefiting the local underserved community. Located at the intersection of 10th Street and King Street, the aged asphalt will be removed and replaced drought tolerant landscaping, shade trees, stormwater infiltration systems, pervious pavement walkway and bike path, educational signage, Americans with Disabilities Act compliant features, public art, lighting, seating, and waste receptacles. The project will also improve active transportation safety by connecting bike routes, enhancing pedestrian facilities, incorporating ramps and crosswalks along a defined Safe Route to School, and increased lighting.
The local projects announced this week are in addition to the $312 million for 126 beautification projects along the state highway system that were announced last month.
Since launching Clean California in July, Caltrans has removed nearly 7,400 tons of litter from the state highway system – enough to fill 134 Olympic-size swimming pools – and hired 623 new team members as part of Clean California, including 498 maintenance workers who collect litter and remove graffiti.
For a complete list of projects and more information about Clean California, visit CleanCA.com.