Landscaping wins award

For one Burbank Water and Power employee, watching the evolution of

the new landscaping design in and around the department’s buildings

was a chance to see some real change.

“To see the project develop and take on the shape made you

understand what the architect was trying to achieve,” John Cassidy,

manager of telecommunications for Burbank Water and Power. “When the

construction fence came down and people saw the new sidewalks, the

lawn and all the white rose bushes it brought in a totally new look.”

The landscaping scheme incorporating palm trees and white rose

bushes was given the Sweepstakes Award, announced in July at the Los

Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the California Landscape

Contractors Assn.’s 47th Annual Beautification Awards Banquet.

The design was deemed the best among 31 categories by a panel of

judges made up of landscape architects and contractors.

“It was something we didn’t even know existed,” Cassidy said of

the award. “It certainly was exciting for us. It’s good to win for

something nice we did.”

The Burbank Water and Power project was submitted for

consideration by Irwindale-based Mariposa Horticultural Enterprises,

Inc., the company that installed the landscaping.

Because the Sweepstakes Award is for the best overall landscape

project it is the honor that everyone looks forward to, said Mariposa

President Terry Noriega.

The Burbank Water and Power project probably appealed to the

judges because it was a combination of being well-designed and

well-installed, Noriega said.

“Without a nice design, you can do an excellent job but it’s not

going to be the same,” Noriega said.

The landscaping was a requirement by the state as part of the

permitting process for the new Magnolia Power Plant, Cassidy said.

There were two areas involved -- along the flood control channel

operated by Los Angeles County not accessible to the public; and in

the front of the main department building on Magnolia Boulevard.

Planted along the flood channel were 40 palm trees and ficus was

planted along the channel wall. Lighting will be installed to

illuminate the palm fronds at night, Cassidy said.

The palm trees were planted over one weekend and required a crane

being placed in the nearby Metrolink parking lot, Cassidy said.

The public portion of the landscaping can be seen at the front of

the building facing Magnolia Boulevard and at the corner of Magnolia

and Lake Street.

There were 10 palm trees planted, a number of crape myrtles, a

seating area with paving stone in a circular configuration with

Mexican Bird of Paradise grass, Cassidy said.

At the corner are 100 white rose bushes, where a sculpture

incorporating a fountain will be installed in November, Cassidy said.

A challenge was posed by making sure customers still had access to

the building, yet enough space to accommodate the heavy equipment

needed for the landscaping work, Cassidy said.