Not long ago, the LAFD Station 74 garden was a barren 1,800 square foot planter at the front of the station. The department left the space unplanted for many years due to the extensive scope of work required to improve it.
While barren space may seem low maintenance, it can can attract invasive, flammable foliage. Obviously not a good look for a fire station! As a result, firefighters were spending time doing a great deal of weeding without getting the benefit of beauty for their work.
Travis Whitcomb, just 16 years old at the time, noticed the barren space and the work it created. He saw the opportunity to show his gratitude by providing beauty while lessening the work it would take for the firefighters and paramedics to maintain it. Whitcomb recruited local businesses to help. Nearby FormLA Landscaping created site plans a model fire-defensive garden that would need no overhead watering and little maintenance.
The station now maintains the garden, an eye-popping, fragrant array of drought-tolerant foliage in the heart of this busy business district.