ALTADENA, Calif.—Los Angeles County parks officials launched a new Landscape Recovery Center at Eaton Canyon Saturday, marking what they called a major milestone in restoring parks and natural habitats impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
The Center, located at 1456 E. Mendocino St. near Altadena Golf Course, will serve as a dedicated nursery and restoration hub focused on growing native plants and trees to support long-term habitat regeneration and urban forest recovery.
“The Landscape Recovery Center is a critical investment in the restoration of the Eaton Canyon Natural Area and surrounding habitats,” County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. “Plants grown from an Altadena seed library created before the wildfires will take root here and flourish once again. This effort transforms a site of loss into a local hub for regeneration and stewardship. The Landscape Recovery Center is already emerging as a model for how public agencies can lead in climate adaptation and disaster recovery.”
The facility is funded through previously announced grants totaling nearly $3 million—$1 million from the Regional Park and Open Space District, a local special district governed by the Board of Supervisors, and $1.87 million from the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, a state agency within the California Natural Resources Agency.
“For Altadena and nearby communities devastated by the wildfires, this Landscape Recovery Center is a promise fulfilled to help Altadena, its parks and its residents rebuild back with the lasting benefits of native trees and shrubs,” said Democratic Assemblyman John Harabedian of Pasadena. “I fought to secure funding for this project in the state budget because rebuilding these neighborhoods matters. Restoring parks and green spaces provides residents with places to gather and heal. This center will help the community recover while protecting and enhancing the local environment for years to come.”
To date, 200 native trees have been purchased for affected areas, along with another 1,000 native shrubs and understory plants. Species were selected not only for their ecological value, but also for their cultural significance to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians Gabrielino Tongva.
A ceremonial tree planting marked the Center’s opening on March 7, with leadership from the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation on site to steward the event.
“As we restore county parks in Altadena and help re-green Eaton Canyon, we are grateful for the broad support,” County Parks Director Norma García-González said. “This is just phase one of a multi-phase recovery of a critical habitat, beloved recreation landmark, and county-designated Significant Ecological Area. With additional support we can grow more trees and expand our nursery capacity.”
Plants grown at the Center will restore a total of seven fire-damaged LA County Parks facilities: six in Altadena (Charles S. Farnsworth Park, Charles White Park, Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Loma Alta Park, Altadena Golf Course and Triangle Park) as well as Castaic Lake State Recreation Area.
The Landscape Recovery Center features a modular building equipped with offices, storage and equipment space, along with electricity, lighting, and Wi-Fi. The site now includes water access, irrigation systems, plumbing, and restrooms. Five full-time and four part-time staff members will operate the facility.
