Parkway Preserve: Restoring Land and Community
Parkway Preserve has the potential to become a thriving native ecosystem within the industrial stretch of north Ventura Avenue. This transformation requires repurposing the 22-acre parcel into a space that both protects and enhances the surrounding community. Before OVLC took ownership, the site had been used as a dumping ground for construction materials. While that is no longer the case, the land remains overrun with invasive plants. By clearing the property down to bare earth, then grading and recontouring it, we can shape the landscape to welcome seasonal flooding whenever Cañada Larga Creek overflows.
Encouraging flooding on a property might seem counterintuitive, but in this case, it offers multiple benefits. Most notably, it will help reduce flooding on developed properties downstream in the Ventura Avenue community. Additionally, allowing water to move slowly through the preserve will provide sustained moisture, essential for restoring a diverse meadow habitat. Another key environmental benefit is improved water quality. By capturing runoff from Cañada Larga Creek—often laden with cattle manure and other pollutants—and filtering it through a series of catch basins, we can ensure that cleaner water flows into the Ventura River and, ultimately, to the ocean.
Beyond flood mitigation and water purification, Parkway Preserve will create new opportunities for the community to connect with the land. Planned trails will link the existing bus stop on Ventura Avenue to the Ventura River Bike Path, which runs through the property. Scenic gathering areas will be created on higher ground overlooking the Ventura River, where invasive giant reed (Arundo donax) will be removed to restore open views. Recreational features will be designed with flooding in mind, meaning hardscape infrastructure like benches will be minimal and placed in areas outside the 100-year flood zone. Some facilities, such as restrooms, may not be feasible due to flooding concerns or permitting challenges, but wherever possible, OVLC will remain responsive to the needs of the community—especially those who have helped shape this vision. Over the past six months, OVLC has actively sought community input to guide the design of Parkway Preserve. Last June, we hosted a Spanish-language outreach event at the preserve to gather ideas specifically from the Ventura Avenue community. In November, we held a follow-up Spanish-language event at Bell Arts Factory, along with an English-language public meeting at Leashless Brewing in Ventura. Throughout this process, we have also engaged in discussions with Chumash Tribal representatives to incorporate their perspectives.
Using this collective input—along with guidance from city and county officials regarding permitting requirements—we have developed a first-draft conceptual plan. This plan outlines the locations of catch basins, visitor pathways, and key restoration features. While still in the early stages and subject to refinement over the next three to four years as we secure funding and move toward construction, one thing remains certain: Parkway Preserve will support a thriving native ecosystem while strengthening the connection between people, water, and land for generations to come.
Brendan Taylor, Director of Field Programs
