Completed Projects/Issues - Parks / Coast / Environment

University City Beautification Program

Photo of Councilman Peters, his son Ben Peters, and UC Representative Michelle Blumen walk door to door asking residents to take and care for trees in front of their homes

Photo of Councilman Peters was joined by volunteers from the UCCA to walk door to door asking their neighbors to accept trees along Governor Drive

57 Trees Planted on Governor As Part of Phase One!

In an effort to enhance the appearance of common areas and public right-of-way in the University City Community, Councilman Scott Peters has joined with the University City Community Association (UCCA) to develop a program to enhance landscaping and community identity in the University City area.

The UCCA and Councilman Peters chose to begin the program in the heart of the community, along the Governor Drive corridor from Genesee to Regents Road. Councilman Peters has allocated $50,000 from district one road funds for the project.

Phase I

The goal of Phase I of the program is to plant a variety of trees in the parkways along Governor Drive between Genesee and Regents. The trees will improve the walkability along Governor and provide an enhanced appearance. Street trees have also been found to save energy by providing shade and decrease the "heat island" effect that can happen during summer months.

On September 14th, Councilman Peters joined community members to walk door to door along Governor Drive, asking home owners to allow the City to plant a tree in the parkway area in front of their homes. Home owners were given the choice of three trees, an Australian Willow (PDF: 91K), Raywood Ash (PDF: 99K) and a Gold Medallion Tree (PDF: 96K), that have been pre-approved by the Urban Forestry Program for use within the public right of way. The types of trees chosen are compatible with the planting location, thus preventing damage to streets and sidewalks, while ensuring species diversity.

The program received overwhelming response and beginning November 9th, fifty-seven new trees will be planted along Governor Drive.

View Photos from the Phase One Tree Planting on Governor

Phase II

Photo of Community members meeting in breakout sessions to discuss the ideas for UC beautification

The goal of Phase II of the program is to enhance medians through landscaping, and provide community cohesion using identification signs, and other right-of-way enhancements. A special meeting to determine the focus of Phase II was held at the regular meeting of the UCCA on November 14th. Councilman Peters was on hand to discuss the success of Phase I and talk about potential plans for Phase II. Several other meetings were held focusing on how the specific projects should look. The Community generated ideas at each meeting that were molded into specific concepts.

Review the brainstorming session notes.

With the help of landscape architects, the community developed three concepts called the Zipper, Splash Garden and Green Brick Road for the Governor Drive area, between Genesee and Regents Road.

View the concepts. (PDF: 117K)