Silver Lake and Ivanhoe Reservoir Master Plan
Workshop #1 - Saturday, March 27, 1999

LAND USE - Workshop Comments

Existing Conditions

General

• South end of reservoir is intensively used
• Walking & bicycling is very dangerous in the roadways.
  

Unused Land

• Bonding potential
• Open up areas along W.S.L.B. for joggers
  

Site Access

• Up until 1940s area was not fenced
• Fencing is unattractive

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Use of Perimeter as Recreation Resource Areas

• Some areas lack sidewalks on lake side
• There are dangerous conditions on downslope along Armstrong
• Coordinate with DOT/DWP to provide pedestrian access
• Need to reconfigure the perimeter to bring people closer to water

Recreational Uses / Activities

• Jogging Path
• Separate path from bicycle path
• Jogging path should take precedence over landscape improvements
• Rock outcopping along Armstrong restricts jogging path
• Provide soft surface for joggers and hard surface for bikers
• Can jogging occur on the interior DWP road?
• Encourage resident use/access w/ perimeter "strolling" paths
• Enhance the experience of perimeter walk
• On grade stripping is insufficient protection for recreation uses
• Need grade separations for pedestrian paving @ street edge

Recreational Uses

• Provide benches in passive areas
• Provide picnic tables. - Varying opinions
• Provide par course
• Create a nature trail
• Institutional uses not favored because they require more parking
• Provide unique activities not available at Griffith and Elysian Parks
• Provide passive recreation only
• Provide observation points near lake and at other locations
• Educational Activities about the lake and environment are appropriate
• Concerns about skateboarders, do not want elements introduced that attract skateboarders

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Controlled Access Suggestions

• Limit non-resident use
• Limit hours of accessibility
• Register users w/ key card and gates
• Require a fee for use-means to finance improvements
• Locate new activities in nodes
• Increased access may have impacts on wildlife-heron nesting

Bike Paths

• Hard surface is desired
• Separation from roadway is desired
• Separate bike path from Ivanhoe Elementary school to the new rec center

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Quality of Life

• Maintain current character and feel
• Increased access may increase traffic and parking problems
• Provide activities compatible with current uses
• Preserve "placid" feel of lake and open space
• Enhance unused areas for resident’s use
• Need to develop programs to control loitering, trash and other undesirable uses

Recreation Center / Nursery School

• Preserve / enhance grounds / buildings

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Dog Park

• Area is unattractive and often muddy
• Parking for users decreases parking for residents
• Weekend use is intensive and there are too many users
• Possibly relocate dog park
• Suggested building another Dog Park at Griffith Park
• Replace the several trees in dog park that shed the thorny chestnuts – it makes a section unusable
• Dog park is a very important component of the Community
• Re-design dog park so part of area can be used for picnic tables separate from a smaller area dedicated to dog park with a safe access area for both animals and people
• Creates dust problem; how to successfully keep grass growing with such heavy use

Aesthetics

• Clean-up / maintain visible open space
• Fence should be more attractive
• Increase views to lake and preserve existing views into lake
• Preserve and enhance woodland areas on hillside
• How can the impact of increased access be limited so as to not decrease the present aesthetic qualities
• Change appearance of embankment
• Develop informal garden spaces with walking path

Parking

• Consensus was no new parking is desired
• Need to evaluate uses in order to estimate need for additional parking
• Additional development would require additional parking
• There is insufficient parking for the nursery school, recreation center and dog park
• There is inconsistent parking around the perimeter of the reservoir

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