Senator Portantino Unveils $150k for Burbank Community Gardens
For Immediate Release: March 13, 2023
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Senator Portantino Unveils $150k for Burbank Community Gardens
Burbank, CA - Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) joined local Burbank community garden supporters, volunteers and city officials to celebrate the state allocation of $150,000 to the Los Angeles Community Gardens Council for two community gardens in the City of Burbank. Senator Portantino successfully secured the funding from the 2022-2023 state budget after being introduced to Burbank’s community gardens by former Mayor Sharon Springer.
"I was deeply impressed by the wonderful sense of community spirit when I was invited to visit the new garden kickoff by Sharon Springer. How could I not help secure funding to enhance the effort when I had the chance? And this weekend we got to collectively celebrate and appreciate the terrific volunteers, supporters and staff who are making it happen,” stated Senator Portantino. “Gardening as a collective community project improves the quality of life for residents in Burbank and creates a beautiful functioning food outlet and recreational space.”
“I’m thankful for the support from Senator Portantino and I’m thrilled to work alongside LACGC to bring these community gardens to Burbank,” said Mayor Konstantine Anthony. “Cultivating fresh produce, encouraging sustainable practices, and raising civic engagement are a few of the many benefits to come. I can’t wait to see our residents and our community thrive.”
Local residents, the City of Burbank, and the Los Angeles Community Garden Council have partnered to develop two Community Gardens in the City of Burbank. The Community Gardens seek to create a collaborative diverse and welcoming environment for people grow fresh produce and fosters environmental preservation and appreciation. The idea for the Burbank Community Garden began about a decade ago on the Sustainable Burbank Commission.
“The Burbank community gardens and Senator Portantino's monetary state support underscore the importance of starting a project, nurturing it forward to the finish line and a commitment to the ongoing care of the finished project,” stated former Burbank Mayor Sharon Springer. “An attitude and reflection of gratitude to each individual, group and organization is important to us as a community. We must continue to move forward with collaborative ideas that invite contribution, participation and community building. A project such as this connects us to the environment and our food supply in an intimate way. If we pay attention, we can clearly see the cumulative impacts of our actions and hopefully, we will be inspired to live in a way that is more thoughtful and respectful of our planet and our co-inhabitants here and around the world.”
"Gardens are humbling; they come alive in the deep space of soil, the seasonal pulses of rain, and the powerful links of diversity,” stated Burbank Community Gardens Steering Committee Member Kreigh Hampel. “In gardens, all of our living systems are breathing, connected, hungry, and alive. The greatly appreciated funds will be used to build the Hollywood Way garden, as well as irrigation, fencing, garden beds, tools and supplies.”
“The State of California Grant that Senator Portantino secured will support two new Burbank community gardens featuring cool, green, safe neighborhood space, where families can bring their children and meet their neighbors,” stated Diana Campos Jimenez, Interim Executive Director for the Los Angeles Community Garden Council. “The Los Angeles Community Garden Council is happy to work in partnership with Senator Portantino to bring new opportunities for exercise, balanced diet and good health to Californians.”
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