Library Lovers Unite for Revitalization Effort

For the second weekend in a row, local volunteers were hard at work on a Saturday afternoon to revitalize a neglected facet of Highland Park's architectural landscape.

From as early as 6:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, members of the and various other city volunteers groups were power-washing, raking, weeding and planting outside the on Figueroa Street.

The large volunteer effort is a result of the coordinating efforts of Trisha Gossett, a member of the HHPNC, and Lynelle Scaduto, a Highland Park field Deputy for Councilmember Ed Reyes.

Built in 2001, It didn't take long for the the Arroyo Seco Library on Figueroa Street to fall victim to blight.

The Arts and Crafts inspired structure stands only a few hundred yards away from the historic Abbey San Encino, once home to Highland Park publisher, artist and social maven .

Due to years of persistent vandalism and inadequate city maintenance, what was supposed to be an ode to Highland Park's artistic heritage had become something of an eyesore.

Gossett, a library lover and neighborhood booster, wouldn't stand for it.

Last October, Gossett brought Scaduto to the library to witness the graffiti vandalism on the library's exterior walls as well as the sorry state of the landscaping.

From there, Scaduto began her effort of pulling together municipal and volunteer organizations, such as the Central City Action Committee, the Highland Park Business Improvement District, Los Angeles Conservation Corps and the Highland Park Neighborhood Council.

Gossett also enlisted Lynette Kampe, Executive Director of the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, to help choose the proper plantings for the library.

"We're celebrating so many things today," Scaduto told a group of gathered volunteers on Saturday. "Partnerships, new friendships,  our youth that are going to grow in the community and be our new role models and leaders."

In addition to a thorough cleaning and new plantings, paid for through the council office's community services account, new cameras have also been installed at the library, which are equipped with an audio deterrent that will ward off those who come too close to the library's walls.

Gossett, whose early persistence is due much of the credit for Saturday's cleanup effort, offered thanks to Councilmember Reyes' office for helping her to execute her vision.

"On behalf of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, I want to thank our Councilman Ed Reyes for his support, which made this first step in revitalizing our beautiful library possible," she said. "I also want to thank him for giving us his field deputy Lynelle Scaduto, whose passion for libraries helped us materialize this day."

Among those on hand to participate in the cleanup effort was the library's original architect, Thomas C. Michali.

"I love it, because I drive by and I seen how its gone downhill," he said. "It's just nice to see people caring about it.