by Virginia Vaughn
As the new year begins, many take stock of the ways they can make themselves and those around them safer and healthier in 2018. The City of Buena Park is no exception, and is constantly looking for ways to improve the lifestyle of its residents. Recently, the City has completed two projects with those concerns in mind: Phase I of the Southern California Edison Right-of-Way Walking Path and a Free Local Smoke Alarm Installation in the area of Franklin Street, near Beach Blvd.
On Dec. 12, 2017, the City held a ribbon cutting event for Buena Park’s new mile-long walking and cycling path. The pathway starts just west of the intersection of Knott Ave. and Thelma Ave., and continues westward within the Southern California Edison Right-of-Way until Valley View St., where it connects to the City of La Palma’s walking path. The path includes both a concrete and decomposed granite path ideal for all types of movement, including walking, running, cycling, and skating. The path will also provide a safe path of travel for school-aged children in the surrounding area. This $1.26 million project was made possible by the City’s Park-in-Lieu Fund, which is funded by development in the City, a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Committee, and St. Jude Hospital. The City is excited to share this new outdoor amenity to promote a healthier lifestyle and plans to expand the walking path as funding becomes available.
On Jan. 15, 2018, the City of Buena Park partnered with the Red Cross and the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to distribute and install free smoke detectors in the area bounded by Franklin St., Commonwealth Ave., Stanton Ave., and Beach Blvd. The event took place at OCFA Fire Station No. 62. The purpose of the event was to inform the public of the availability of free smoke detectors, which are an important feature of a safe and secure home. The event was a success with 145 smoke detectors installed in 44 homes, protecting more than 205 residents. A total of 70 volunteers, including Red Cross volunteers, Buena Park High School students off for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, University of California, Irvine students, and OCFA Fire Explorers participated in the event. The Red Cross will continue to hold events such as these to raise awareness on the importance of smoke detectors and promote their Home Fire Campaign that has installed more than one million smoke detectors nationwide since 2014.
Upcoming Event:
Join City Manager Jim Vanderpool and me at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel on Feb. 7, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. for the City of Buena Park’s State of the City. The program will recount last year’s accomplishments and share the City Council’s innovative vision for the coming year. Tickets are on sale now through Jan. 25. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling the City Manager’s Office at 714-562-3550. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Please plan to arrive at 11 a.m. for event check-in.
