Ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, Councilwoman Imelda Padilla Tuesday committed to beautifying and making the Sepulveda Basin a safe recreational area for residents and visitors alike.
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Padilla said that in the past year, she has directed several coordinated operations that resulted in 250 tons of vegetation and 400 trees being removed from key fire zones near the Hjelte Sports Complex, 60,000 square feet of overgrowth cleared along major medians, and about 14 to 15 tons of debris and 500 pounds of hazardous waste removed in so-called "early cleanup phases."
"The Sepulveda Basin is a multi-jurisdictional area that requires careful coordination and planning to address its unique set of challenges. I have taken the lead in bringing in agencies together to find real solutions and foster collaboration across multiple levels of government," said Padilla, who represents the Sixth Council District, including Lake Balboa where the park is located.
"My office is actively addressing the concerns we hear from the community, from fire prevention and beautification to enforcement and homelessness," she added.
According to her office, the councilwoman assembled the first multi- agency task force in 2024 to address vegetation management, illegal dumping and homelessness in the Sepulveda Basin. The task force involves the city's Public Works, Fire Department, Sanitation and Environment, and Recreation and Parks.
"Looking ahead, I remain committed to working with our county, state and federal partners to secure the funding needed to make the Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan a reality, transforming the Basin into a thriving ecological and recreational hub for our community and future generations," Padilla said in a statement.
In an Olympic first for the San Fernando Valley, LA28 added 3x3 basketball and modern pentathlon to competitions slated for the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area alongside BMX and skateboarding.
The Basin has been a hot spot for fires. Recently, the Los Angeles Board of Fire Commissioners submitted a preliminary budget request of $200 million to the Mayor's Office. Part of that funding would support a second wildland paid hand crew, brush clearance inspections and brush and mitigation work in the Basin, among other things.
This is part of early work as Mayor Karen Bass begins formulating her budget for fiscal year 2026-27. The budget process is expected to take several months leading up to the unveiling in April 2026.
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