LA Volunteers Save Historic Coral Trees on San Vicente

A temporary breakdown in city maintenance nearly killed one of Los Angeles's most cherished landmarks, but volunteers weren't about to let that happen.

The coral trees lining San Vicente Boulevard have graced the Westside since the mid-20th century, planted where Red Car streetcar tracks once ran. Their twisted limbs and brilliant orange spring blossoms became so beloved that LA declared them the official city tree in 1966 and designated the two-mile canopy a Historic-Cultural Monument a decade later.

But when a contract dispute stalled regular maintenance this year, thick weeds choked the ground-level sprinkler heads. Water couldn't reach the roots, and the drought-sensitive trees began dying.

Local residents Tracey and David Price noticed the crisis when they found San Vicente Boulevard closed for emergency mowing. A city worker explained that months without proper care had created a dangerous situation for trees already vulnerable to disease and water stress.

The community refused to wait for bureaucracy to sort itself out. Volunteers gathered along the boulevard with tools in hand, pulling weeds and uncovering the buried irrigation system tree by tree.

The Ripple Effect

The grassroots effort sparked action at City Hall. Officials began repairing the overhead irrigation system and increased watering schedules to combat summer heat.

American Growers Company, the Prices' landscape firm, deployed water trucks to supplement the irrigation while repairs continue. Drivers passing the historic parkway now honk and wave at crews working to protect the living landmark.

Community members also commissioned an independent arborist report with detailed recommendations to ensure the trees survive for future generations. The evaluations provide a roadmap for the precise care these specimens need.

The coalition of neighbors, businesses, and city workers demonstrates how quickly problems get solved when everyone pitches in instead of pointing fingers.

Those gnarled coral trees have framed San Vicente for nearly 70 years, and thanks to volunteers willing to get their hands dirty, they'll be blooming orange every spring for decades to come.