- Murphy Park is an important downtown asset.
- The use of the park is unique and unlike any other park in Glendale.
- It serves as a conduit and conductor for the entrance into downtown.
- Reinvestment ensures health and accessibility for many generations to come.
- The project will represent one of the largest investments in the park.
The City will not be paving Murphy Park.
The 1984 renovations placed walkways throughout the park making the park 44% hardscaped. These walkability enhancements were welcomed by the public.
The new reinvestment project is in the very beginning stages, and the process of designing and changes to the park have not formally started. The concerns that have been raised are based on an artist's conceptual drawing that staff used in a City Council Workshop presentation regarding only the project's financing. The City's project team is currently working with the contracted architect to develop a process that will include community engagement.
Irrigation
The City continues to water the trees and landscaping in Murphy Park.
Due to issues with the berms and basins in the park, flood irrigation was discontinued in 2005. Sprinkler irrigation is now used to water trees and turf.
Summer Irrigation Schedule
- Six days a week: 10 p.m. - 6 a.m. (cycle times)
- Thursday no sprinklers for Friday mowing
Soil, Turf, and Weed Demonstration Project (2018-2019)
- Tested soil
- Chemistry issues - flushed soil to lower salt levels
- Broad leaf weeds treated from the four demonstration areas
- Turf Management program implemented
- Additional aeration, fertilization, and recalibration of sprinkler timing and equipment
Trees
Health of Trees - Tree Removal
The City is not getting rid of all the trees and replacing them with Xeriscape and desert landscaping.
In 2021, the City hired West Coast Arborists to provide a detailed assessment of the health of the trees in Murphy Park.
City is implementing recommendations.
Health of Trees - Arborist Recommendations Implemented
- Removed nine diseased and declining trees to reduce the risk of tree failures, and improve park aesthetics. Work completed in summer 2021.
- Removed deadwood from existing trees. Work completed in summer 2021.
- Cut the tree grates back away from tree trunks. Work completed summer of 2022.
- Notified the holiday lights contractor that staples are not acceptable for securing holiday lights on trees.
- Removal of grass at the base of trees is being done periodically, and the mowing contractor has been instructed to use caution when line trimming at the base of trees.
- Completed an irrigation audit in June of 2022. To improve the water infiltration rate, individual zones are now set to cycle for extended periods of time.
- Completed soil injection root fertilization in July 2021 and in July 2022. Core aeration and turf fertilization completed in June 2022. Additional treatments are planned for later this summer.
- Increase of tree canopy by replacement plantings will be temporarily delayed and incorporated into the upcoming Downtown Campus Reinvestment Project.
Health of Trees - Arborist Additional Recommendations
Arborist reinspected the park on July 19, 2022.
- One bottle and one ash tree are recommended to be removed
- Work is scheduled for August
- Additional Monitoring
- One pine tree
- Remaining ficus trees
Significant experts, resources, and staff time are focused on supporting this 113-year-old park.