We need you!
Be part of something really cool — the redux of a new median along Los Osos Valley Road
Installation date: October 9, 2021 Shift#1: 8:45-12:30 Shift #2 12:45-4:30
Rain date: October 16, 2021 Shift#1: 8:45-12:30 Shift #2 12:45-4:30
Volunteer to be part of the Median Project!
History:
In 2010 Celebrate Los Osos worked with San Luis Obispo County Public Works to redesign an existing 1100 linear foot median along Los Osos Valley Road. The median had been neglected for years. We teamed up with Suzanne Morrison of Earthscapes, a Los Osos residential and commercial landscape design firm.
Under Suzanne’s direction and with over 80 Celebrate Los Osos volunteers, we replanted the median and added a new irrigation system in one day. Since then we have paid for water and maintenance, and Earthscapes has maintained it at a greatly reduced cost.
However, during the construction of the wastewater project, the median was severely damaged.
Large trenches where dug across the median, tearing up irrigation lines and destroying 70% of the plant materials. We have been waiting for several years for the Public Utilities Commission, Golden State Water and San Luis Obispo County to come to agreement about reclaimed water from our wastewater project. “Purple pipe” water has been installed and reclaimed water will be available soon.
So, with that resource it’s time to create the beautiful entrance into our community that will give an aesthetic-pleasing and welcoming, first impression to visitors and residents alike.
Part 1 — Design
In 2019, again working with Earthscapes, we proposed a two-part project to be accomplished over two years to the San Luis Obispo County Infrastructure Grant Program. We received a grant for Part 1— the design phase — and have completed a sustainable landscape and irrigation design, identified drought-tolerant and native plant materials, and hardscape materials (boulders and colored gravels) to create a compelling linear design that will be visually appealing to the thousands of people who pass by each day.
The plants were selected not only for their sustainability but based on color, texture and size to be in compliance with the County and State’s height restrictions. And we will reduce our water usage by 50%.
Part 2 — Implementation
In 2020 we proposed Part 2 to the San Luis Obispo County Infrastructure Grant Program and requested funds to implement the design for the median including the plant and hardscape materials and irrigation equipment, new controllers, etc.
The design is a continuous stylized serpentine shape made up of color and dotted with groupings of small boulders and plants. As motorists drive by at 35+ mph they will experience a continuous narrative and with a consistent design approach to the median rather than multiple clusters of unrelated design elements. The existing oak trees will be featured in the new design.
The following drawings show the new median design starting at South Bay Blvd. and traveling west, past Ralphs Grocery toward the turn lane for the Post Office. The first drawings are for the landscape plan. The last four drawings are for the Irrigation Plan. And finally, we have included the images of the plant materials we have selected.
1) South Bay Boulevard Turn Lane
2) Ralphs Left Turn Median
3) West End Median
4) East End Median
Plant Materials
We believe that a beautiful median creates a positive statement of entry into Los Osos and it is fundamental to our residents and visitors.
The primary purpose of a median is to increase safety by managing vehicles’ access to adjacent properties and separating vehicular traffic. However, when well-designed landscape is added, medians improve the aesthetics of streetscapes and the viewer’s experience, thus enhancing their impression of the place — Los Osos.
By using well-selected drought-tolerant plant materials, along with some natives and gravel groundcovers, we will be demonstrating how it is possible to have a beautiful landscape without turf, and with minimal use of water. We have selected the following natives and succulents for the median.
This is the median today. We want to change that!
This is what the new median will look like!
Planting Selection: Natives and succulents