Contact: Christianne Smith
Phone: (424) 413-1104
ANAHEIM — A new, dynamic and vibrant one-way promenade designed with the community in mind now welcomes residents and visitors with wide sidewalks, colorful murals, shade trees, artistic crosswalks, drought-tolerant landscaping, and inviting public spaces that encourage walking, bicycling, skateboarding, and community gatherings.
The North La Palma Parkway Promenade is now complete, thanks to a $4 million project via the Clean California initiative and City of Anaheim. The new promenade transforms the corridor into a safer and more beautiful route for active transportation.
Caltrans and the City of Anaheim today celebrated completion of the effort with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken, residents and Caltrans representatives. The project was made possible with $2.6 million in grant funding through Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative – a sweeping $1.2 billion, multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs and engage communities to transform public spaces. The City of Anaheim also provided a local match of $1.4 million toward the project.
“Partnerships are at the heart of everything we do at Caltrans,” said Caltrans District 12 Director Lan Zhou. “Collaborating with cities like Anaheim allows us to bring transformative projects to life—projects that not only enhance safety and mobility, but also build community pride and improve quality of life. The North La Palma Parkway Promenade is a shining example of what’s possible when state and local agencies work together toward a shared vision of a cleaner, greener Orange County.”
Strategically located near La Palma Park, the project turned a conventional two-way asphalt road into a dynamic esplanade that enhances access to open space, connects residents to nearby transit and commercial corridors, and revitalizes a historically underserved area. It also addresses long-term environmental stewardship goals by promoting walkability, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and integrating sustainable infrastructure.
Project highlights include:
- 1,000 feet of pedestrian walkways creating safer, more pleasant paths for walking.
- 10 high-visibility crosswalks, including artistic designs to promote safety and elevate the street experience.
- 2,050 feet of bike corridors with improved signage and striping for cyclists.
- 53 drought-resistant trees and native plantings that beautify the space and help sequester carbon.
- 16,306 square feet of asphalt replaced with permeable materials that support stormwater capture.
- Energy-efficient LED lighting to improve visibility and reduce power usage.
- Trash and recycling stations to support a clean, inviting environment.
- A signature gateway monument at Harbor Boulevard, seen by over 44,000 daily commuters.
- A community-focused hanging art installation on Swan Street, offering a space to celebrate culture and creativity.
The project is further enriched by a bilingual education and outreach campaign focused on anti-littering and anti-graffiti messages, supported by events like a community clean-up day and tree-planting initiative. These efforts aim to foster civic pride and long-term stewardship among residents.
“This marks an exciting chapter for one of Anaheim’s most historic and iconic parks,” Mayor Aitken said. “We’ve turned two roads into a walkable promenade that now serves as a gateway to La Palma Park. This transformation reflects a shared commitment with our state partners to build a healthier, safer and more connected Anaheim.”
Since July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners through the Clean California Initiative have picked up more than 2.9 million cubic yards of litter – enough to cover nine lanes of Interstate 5 with trash from the Mexican border to Oregon. Caltrans also hosted more than 650 free dump days in communities throughout the state – resulting in the collection of more than 15,500 mattresses and 57,000 tires. The initiative has enlisted more than 72,000 community clean-up volunteers and created thousands of jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.
In Orange County alone, Clean California has invested more than $60 million, including $15 million in local grant projects, $22 million in highway roadside improvement projects and $23 million toward litter collection efforts.
Learn more about Clean California's impact in Orange County.