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THE FUTURE OF Onteora Hill PARK

Save Onteora Hill
Future Vision of Onteora Hill Park - Artist's Rendering

-- REIMAGINING OUR EAGLE ROCK HILLSIDE --

The Eagle Rock hillside identified by the City of Los Angeles as Onteora Way should be preserved and protected for the enjoyment of residents and future generations.  Onteora is thought to mean “hills of the sky,” derived from the Algonquin language of a New York Native American tribe.  Other’s claim it was a “made up” name associated with a New York camp operated by Theodore Roosevelt.  Whatever its origin, the Onteora land base is clearly a hill that reaches the sky.  One of the few remaining green spaces in Los Angeles. 

This last remaining open space has geographic, historical and cultural significance and the area was first documented by the Portola expedition in 1769.  The area was probably used by the Kizh/Tongva & Tataviam people for trade and the gathering of acorns and securing spring-fed water. The goal is to keep this last remaining space a natural environment while creating exciting possibilities for transforming one of Eagle Rock’s last open spaces into a public asset for all to enjoy.

Future Plan for Onteora Hill Park
Suggested Future Public park on Onteora Hill at Proposed Development Site: 4875 West Onteora Way, Los Angeles, CA 90041

-- A FUTURE ONTEORA HILL PARK COULD INCLUDE: --

      1. Restorative natural gardens featuring native plants and California poppies that used to populate the mountain. 
      2. Creating trail pathways to enhance public access to this Eagle Rock hillside. 
      3. Utilizing the single entry/exit to the property by creating a small pathway that is currently used to connect the hillside area at Kerwin Place that would ensure the privacy of immediate neighbors.  
      4. Working with the Kizh/Tongva people, to create cultural opportunities related to the history of the Onteora hillside and pre-colonization Southern California benefiting residents, Eagle Rock, Delevan and Rockdale elementary schools.
      5. Provide a nature lab for Eagle Rock’s elementary students. 
      6. Preserving a significant natural and recreational resource in the center of one of Los Angeles’ densely populated neighborhoods. A place where all and nearby residents can recreate, enjoy the stunning natural beauty of Southern California and connect with nature. 
Future Onteora Hill Park Plan
Suggested public park on Onteora Hill at 4875 West Onteora Way, Los Angeles, CA 90041

-- A FUTURE ONTEORA HILL PARK COULD INCLUDE: --

  1. Restorative natural gardens featuring native plants and California poppies that used to populate the mountain. 
  2. Creating trail pathways to enhance public access to this Eagle Rock hillside. 
  3. Utilizing the single entry/exit to the property by creating a small pathway that is currently used to connect the hillside area at Kerwin Place that would ensure the privacy of immediate neighbors.  
  4. Working with the Kizh/Tongva people, to create cultural opportunities related to the history of the Onteora hillside and pre-colonization Southern California benefiting residents, Eagle Rock, Delevan and Rockdale elementary schools.
  5. Provide a nature lab for Eagle Rock’s elementary students. 
  6. Preserving a significant natural and recreational resource in the center of one of Los Angeles’ densely populated neighborhoods. A place where all and nearby residents can recreate, enjoy the stunning natural beauty of Southern California and connect with nature. 

-- BENEFITS TO SAVING OUR EAGLE ROCK HILLSIDE --

Our Eagle Rock Hillside is an unparalleled natural resource in Eagle Rock with beautiful view and stunning sunsets and a few remaining natural springs.  Complementing our Eagle Rock formation on the east, is Pelican Rock on the west.  These resources should be acknowledged and shared for the Eagle Rock community because:

      1. Native American legends surrounding the Eagle Rock evoke feelings of one’s magical “possibilities” for the region.  In so doing it increases the health and happiness of area residents. 
      2. It lowers frequency of chronic health disorders, increased cardiovascular health, childhood obesity and lower public healthcare costs.
      3. It helps mitigate climate change and global warming concerns 
      4. It provides habitat for a variety of birds, animals, insects and other organisms while also providing corridors and greenways to link habitats.
      5. It helps prevent soil erosion.
      6. It resolves disparity in a park-poor hillside environment.
      7. It allows for social gatherings.
      8. It combats overdevelopment.
      9. It makes the area more sustainable, more livable and more equitable to the people who live in the area.  
      10. Provide for a conservation easement and build pathways for wildlife to move within/ between habitats.

Our Eagle Rock Hillside is an unparalleled natural resource in Eagle Rock with beautiful view and stunning sunsets and a few remaining natural springs.  Complementing our Eagle Rock formation on the east, is Pelican Rock on the west.  These resources should be acknowledged and shared for the Eagle Rock community because:

  1. Native American legends surrounding the Eagle Rock evoke feelings of one’s magical “possibilities” for the region.  In so doing it increases the health and happiness of area residents. 
  2. It lowers frequency of chronic health disorders, increased cardiovascular health, childhood obesity and lower public healthcare costs.
  3. It helps mitigate climate change and global warming concerns 
  4. It provides habitat for a variety of birds, animals, insects and other organisms while also providing corridors and greenways to link habitats.
  5. It helps prevent soil erosion.
  6. It resolves disparity in a park-poor hillside environment.
  7. It allows for social gatherings.
  8. It combats overdevelopment.
  9. It makes the area more sustainable, more livable and more equitable to the people who live in the area.  
  10. Provide for a conservation easement and build pathways for wildlife to move within/ between habitats.

The Onteora Hillside Alliance cannot guarantee the validity of the information found here. While we use reasonable efforts to include accurate and up to date information, we make no warranties as to the accuracy of the content and assume no liability or responsibility for an error or omission in the content.