The rehabilitation of Beverly Gardens Park has received some well-deserved recognition by the California Preservation Foundation (CPF). The organization bestowed its Preservation Design Award on the multi-year park rehabilitation project. Mayor John A. Mirisch accepted the honor at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins in San Francisco on Oct. 18.
“I was honored to accept this award on behalf of the City and the Council for the rehabilitation of Beverly Gardens Park. History matters and we’re so proud to do our part to respect, honor and preserve ours,” Mirisch tells the Courier.
Founded in 1978, the CPF’s mission is to identify, protect and celebrate the rich diversity of California’s historic resources. Its state-wide membership numbers exceed 20,000. Each year, the organization’s awards are judged by top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning and history.
In bestowing the Preservation Design Award to Beverly Gardens Park, the CPF judges cited a number of factors. They singled out an exceptional commitment to preserving the landscape of the 113-year- old park while making it sustainable, noting, “This is a good example of simultaneously engaging in conservation and preservation, maintaining historic features of the landscape while making it more environmentally friendly. This hasn’t been done enough on the West Coast they went all the way back and applied preservation methodology to this landscape.”
The multi-million-dollar, multi-year partnership working on Beverly Gardens Park accomplished comprehensive restoration and rehabilitation while retaining the landmark’s original vision and character-defining features. Those features include iconic fountains, water elements, shaded walkways, significant tree specimens, historic pergolas, specialty gardens and a distinctive linear design by master landscape architect Wilbur D. Cook of Boston, a protégé of famed landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmstead.
At its creation in 1906, Beverly Gardens Park also helped launch the City Beautiful Movement, which inspired city planning across California. Today, the park is a locally designated historic resource. Listed on the California Register of Historic Resources, it’s also eligible for placement on the National Register. The CPF Preservation Design Award is an affirmation of the public-private partnership that worked tirelessly to rehabilitate and restore the park.
Without question, residents think of Beverly Gardens Park as an integral part of the cultural landscape. Now in its restored state, it’s taken on an even bigger role. A steady stream of multi-national visitors gathers in front of the Beverly Hills Monument Sign and Lily Pond on a daily basis. From there, selfies and group shots posted on social media travel around the globe, ensuring the park’s iconic status on an international level.
