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Receipt and Filing of the Report on the Updated Site Locations, Designs, and Cost Estimates for the Culver City Community Gardens at Veterans Memorial Park and Syd Kronenthal Park.
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Meeting Date: October 7, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Ted Stevens/ PRCS
Phone Number: (310) 253-6682
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission (10/02/2025); (E-Mail) Parks, Recreation & Community Service Department Updates (10/02/2025)
Department Approval: Ted Stevens, PRCS Director (10/02/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Parks Recreation and Community Services Commission receive and file the report on the Updated Site Locations, Designs, and Cost Estimates for the Culver City Community Gardens at Veterans Memorial Park and Syd Kronenthal Park.
BACKGROUND
The Culver City Community Garden (Garden) was established to provide a place for active participation in gardening for residents of Culver City who would otherwise not have the opportunity. The earliest Garden photograph on file is dated 1975. For many years, the Garden has been managed by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department.
Wende Museum Creative Community Center and Housing
On January 24, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number 2022-001, approving a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, P2021-0174-CPA, subject to conditions of approval and code requirements, to allow the construction of a 3-story community center, up to 12 affordable housing dwelling units, a reconfigured community garden, and associated site improvements. The Project site is located at 10808-10860 Culver Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230. The Community Garden was located at 10860 Culver Boulevard. The Conditions of Approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment contained the following condition related to the Culver City Community Garden:
Revision allowing the Project replacement open space community garden at a City park as reflected in Condition of Approval No. 20 pertaining to fences/security barriers as follows: “The Project will provide an equivalent amount of open space on the Project site to replace the displaced community garden. The City will work to relocate the community garden space at a Culver City Park”, in order to implement the above revision.
The City Council directed staff to investigate potential alternative locations for the Garden and return with a report. On August 8, 2022, the remaining gardeners at the Garden were given notice that they must complete their harvest and remove all personal belongings by the end of the day on Sunday, September 18, 2022. This was done in order to make way for construction staging activities for the Creative Community Center and future construction of affordable housing units.
At the September 19, 2022, City Council Meeting, PRCS staff presented a discussion regarding potential alternative locations for the Garden. At that meeting, members of City Council and the public discussed their desire to not have any trees removed in the process of finding a new area, the importance of community outreach in identifying a new location, the possibility of having multiple locations, and the importance of equity in the use of the Garden. A motion was unanimously carried to return the item to the PRCS Commission to research locations for the Garden and engage with the community with alternatives to taking down trees, with the potential to include multiple sites for multiple use, and a set of rules, which include an analysis to allow for equity and access.
PRCS Commission Ad Hoc Subcommittee
At the November 1, 2022, PRCS Commission, members discussed the need for alternative locations, the possibility of thinking outside of the parks in Culver City, and the need to investigate different models used by nearby cities. The commission unanimously approved the creation of the Community Gardens Ad Hoc Subcommittee (Subcommittee), comprised of former Chair William Rickards and former Commissioner Jane Leonard, to work with staff and engage with all members of the community.
In order to have a better understanding of the logistics of operating a community garden, PRCS staff along with members from the Subcommittee toured various community gardens and spoke with staff, volunteers, and master gardeners. These locations included Ishihara Park Learning Garden and Main Street Community Garden in Santa Monica, where they met with Community Gardens Program Coordinator Teague Weybright. An urban farming tour in Assembly District 55 was also scheduled and included visits to Seeds of Carver, Red Tails Farms, Asante Microfarm, and Heart Beet Gardening at Marina Del Rey Middle School. A tour of Culver City park options also took place.
Community Outreach
On Monday, February 20, 2023, PRCS staff and the Subcommittee, held an in-person discussion with community members regarding the Garden. The presentation included information regarding the previous community garden policies and procedures, staff’s research on multiple use gardens such as communal, hybrid, and rental, the potential relocation options, and the justification as to why some of the parks in Culver City do not offer a feasible location. Staff addressed the rules for the Garden as related to the PRCS department’s operation. A virtual meeting with community members was held on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, and covered the same information that was discussed during the in-person meeting.
PRCS Commission Recommendation
At their March 9, 2023, meeting, the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission reviewed the relocation sites recommended by PRCS Staff and unanimously approved the recommendation of Veterans Memorial Park and Syd Kronenthal Park for City Council to approve. It was requested for staff to return to City Council with a detailed cost estimate for each community garden.
DISCUSSION
On April 10, 2023, the City Council approved the locations of Veterans Memorial Park and Syd Kronenthal Park for the Garden. Attachment 1 shows the concept plan at the Veterans Memorial Park. The Garden will be located at the intersection of Overland Boulevard and Barman Avenue along the south side of the Plunge. It will contain 16 plots and will be fenced for security and privacy. The pine trees that run along the Plunge will remain intact. The palm trees located in the center of the area will need to be removed. The cost estimate for the Veterans Memorial Park Community Garden is $162,808 (Attachment 2).
Attachment 3 shows the concept plan at Syd Kronenthal Park. The Garden will be located on the eastern side of the park along the Ballona Creek and south of the basketball court. It contains 13 plots and will be fenced for security and privacy. The eucalyptus trees located in this area will need to be removed before the installation can begin. The cost estimate for the Syd Kronenthal Park Community Garden is $149,546 (Attachment 4).
Once completed, the department will reach out to past renters who expressed interest in returning before opening availability to the public. To be eligible for a Garden plot, you must: 1) be a Culver City resident; 2) live in an apartment, condominium, townhome, or other dwelling unit; and 3) have no gardening space available to you. One plot is allowed per family/household. Plots are non-transferable to family members, friends, or others, regardless of the circumstances. The PRCS Department maintains a waiting list of interested plot renters. These guidelines are contained in the Community Garden Rental Agreement (Attachment 5), which was last updated by staff in 2021. The Community Garden Plot Rental Fee is $30.00 annually. A new and/or a replacement key to the Garden may be purchased for $11.00.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 does not include sufficient funding for these proposed projects. The Adopted Budget includes $75,000 in Capital Improvement Project No. PP025 Community Gardens (41980000.730100.PP025) which can be found in Capital Improvements section of the budget book under Park Facilities Fund (Fund 419).
The PRCS Department plans to complete one garden installation during Fiscal Year 2025-2026. At this time, PRCS is pursuing the use of Measure A funding from LA County to bridge the gap between the City funding and the actual cost for each garden. Once the additional funding is secured, PRCS will take the new designs and locations with the cost estimates to City Council for approval.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2025-10-07 - ATT 1 Veterans Memorial Park Community Garden Concept Plan
2. 2025-10-07 - ATT 2 Veterans Memorial Park Community Garden Cost Estimate
3. 2025-10-07 - ATT 3 Syd Kronenthal Park Community Garden Concept Plan
4. 2025-10-07 - ATT 4 Syd Kronenthal Park Community Garden Cost Estimate
5. 2025-10-07- ATT 5 Community Garden Rental Agreement and Rules and Regulations
MOTION
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
Receive and file the report on the updated site locations, designs, and cost estimates for the Culver City community gardens at Veterans Memorial Park and Syd Kronenthal Park.