Now that golf and tennis operations have come to an end, the Weddington property will be fenced off, and pre-construction activities will commence. This activity will initially include staging of equipment and installation of fencing and sound-proofing.

Throughout the construction process, we will update this web page to make sure that you are apprised of activities at the site before new phases of construction activity commence.

For up-to-the-minute updates about River Park construction, please consider following River Park on Instagram at @HWRiverPark.

At any time, you should feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions or concerns.

Construction Hotline
We have created a new Construction Hotline number, 818-487-6611, which will be monitored constantly. Feel free to call that number or email us at riverpark@hw.com if you have any construction-related questions or concerns. We will get back to you right away.

Weekly Updates:

October 18, 2024

  • Grading and hauling
    • Water reclamation area will be fully excavated, with the final step being recompaction of soil at the bottom.  That work will be done by week’s end.
    • While not likely, it is possible that we might get started on pool excavation at the very end of the week (the last piece of excavation)
    • No haul trucks will be used, and haven’t been used for the last two weeks
    • Completion of grading still estimated by the end of October
    • Possible that 1 day of shoring activities will take place toward the middle of the parking area.  That will be done through a vibratory rig and last a few hours, at most.
    • Minor excavation will take place in a few spots within the parking and gym footprints (18’ below grade) to dig out sump pits.  Those pits will eventually capture stormwater and wastewater in the finished structures, before the discharge is them pumped up to the city sewer system.  The work will take place throughout the week but should be done by week’s end.
  • Utility access box at Valley Spring and Bellaire
    • An excavator and other soil-moving equipment will be used to finish the work
    • Target completion by week’s end
  • Clubhouse interior renovation
    • Framing activities continue (building sides and roof)
    • As the clubhouse is of wood frame construction, tools will consist of saws, nail guns, hammers, and compressors.
    • Sound levels will be similar to a standard house remodel, and persistent throughout the day
  • Gymnasium
    • Rough plumbing continues
    • Supply trucks will visit the site to drop off materials, typically numbering 5-10 per day

October 11, 2024

Next week’s activities include:

  • Grading and hauling
    • Pool area and water reclamation system are close to completion
    • Hauling of dirt will remain at 1-2 days, at most.  On haul days, truck volume of ~150 trips expected (a reduction from the peak)
    • Completion of grading still estimated by the end of October
    • Compaction of soil at the bottom of the parking area (18’ below grade) will take place throughout the week
  • Utility access box at Valley Spring and Bellaire
    • Box will be framed out, including the use of power tools and compressor
    • Box walls will be backfilled with concrete, requiring a small pump
    • An excavator and other soil-moving equipment will be used, but is not anticipated to be noisy or produce vibration
    • Target completion by week’s end
  • Clubhouse interior renovation
    • Framing activities will begin and last for approximately 3 weeks
    • As the clubhouse is of wood frame construction, tools will consist of saws, nail guns, hammers, and compressors.
    • Sound levels will be similar to a standard house remodel, and persistent throughout the day
  • Gymnasium
    • Rough plumbing continues
    • Supply trucks will visit the site to drop off materials, typically numbering 5-10 per day

October 4, 2024

  • Grading and hauling
    • Both the gymnasium area and underground parking have been completed
    • Pool area and water reclamation system are likely to be completed next week
    • Hauling of dirt will remain at 1-2 days, at most
    • Grading is more than 90% complete and we estimate finishing by the end of October
  • Utility access box at Valley Spring and Bellaire
    • Work on the steel box installation was delayed, but could resume next week
    • An excavator and other soil-moving equipment will be used, but is not anticipated to be noisy or produce vibration
  • Clubhouse interior renovation
    • Rebar installation will be completed next week
    • Possible that a few concrete trucks will visit the site late in the week to pour foundation.  If that happens, a concrete pump will be used (produces the same amount of sound as an air compressor)
    • Rough framing continues
    • The above work will require electric hand tools, compressor, and portable equipment such as table saws
  • Gymnasium
    • Rough plumbing is well underway (e.g., drain lines, water supply lines, conduit)
    • Supply trucks will visit the site to drop off materials, typically numbering 5-10 per day

September 19, 2024

  • Grading and hauling
    • Soil export for the gymnasium and underground parking area are nearing completion, with excavation down to target levels at 18’ below grade
    • Grading activities will shift to the north sector of the property, between Beeman and Babcock avenues, where excavation will take place for the next few weeks
    • An excavator will be the primary piece of equipment used, with haul trucks being loaded on the south side of the excavation areas (i.e., 100-150 feet south of Valley Spring)
    • Occasional use of electric hand tools (e.g., saws) to trim lagging planks
    • The excavator operator signals each haul truck to stop, once it is in position, by a quick (momentary) horn beep
  • The sewer pipe along the north side of the site has been installed, and soil is being replaced.  That work is already complete at Bellaire and Valley Spring, and equipment will quickly move eastward to the endpoint at near Beeman Avenue
  • Clubhouse interior renovation, including use of electric hand tools, table saws, and compressors to run air-powered tools (e.g., nail gun)
    • Concrete drilling is almost done, work that was necessary to reinforce walls and frames
    • Rough framing will resume to replace substandard walls studs and supporting beams, and replace rotten/termite-damaged sections
    • The above work will require electric hand tools and portable equipment such as table saws
  • Minor tree trimming will take place mid-week along the Bellaire property line and between Bellaire and Teesdale on Valley Spring Lane
  • Ongoing dust abatement continues (street sweepers, water trucks, hoses, pressure washing

 

September 13, 2024

  • Continued grading and hauling
    • Primary locations remain the gym and field A areas (southeast sector of the site)
    • Occasional use of electric hand tools (e.g., saws) to trim lagging planks
  • A small sewer pipe will be installed along the north side of the site, running parallel to Valley Spring Lane from Bellaire to just past Beeman.
    • Likely lasts throughout the week
    • Work will take place on the property, inside the fence, approximately 25 feet from the curb line
    • Equipment will consist of small excavators to create the trench line
    • Once the pipe has been installed, excavators will be used to replace the soil and a small vibratory roller used to recompact the soil to the necessary density (a code requirement)
  • Clubhouse interior renovation, including use of electric hand tools, table saws, and compressors to run air-powered tools (e.g., nail gun)
    • Additionally, electric drills will be used to bore holes in the concrete foundation, installing rebar to reinforce walls and frames that previously lacked rigidity and bearing capacity
    • The drills will produce high-pitched noise while in contact with the concrete, and will take several days to complete
  • Ongoing dust abatement continues (street sweepers, water trucks, hoses, pressure washing)

September 6, 2024

  • Grading and hauling
    • Primary locations remain the gym and field A areas (southeast sector of the site)
    • Field B (west sector) will have only sporadic grading activity at this point
    • Occasional use of electric hand tools (e.g., saws) to trim lagging planks
  • A small, underground basin will be installed in the northwest area of the site for sewer pipe access (to connect with the sewer line on Bellaire, for which work was performed in early August)
    • Construction activities are estimated to be Mon-Thu
    • Primary equipment will be two small excavators used to dig out the dirt area for the basin.  No vibratory rollers.
  • Clubhouse interior renovation, including use of electric hand tools, table saws, and compressors to run air-powered tools (e.g., nail gun)
  • Ongoing dust abatement continues (street sweepers, water trucks, hoses, pressure washing)

August 30, 2024

  • Continued grading and hauling, similar to last week’s activities
    • Primary locations remain the gym and field A areas (southeast sector of the site)
    • Field B (west sector) will have only sporadic grading activity at this point
      • Necessary since the field will sit a few feet below street level given the natural slope of the property.
      • Field B grading is 90% complete
    • Gym and field A have passed 12’ of graded depth (approximately two-thirds complete)
    • Occasional use of electric hand tools (e.g., saws) to trim lagging planks
    • Occasional use of equipment to complete utility trenching along the northern property line
  • Clubhouse interior renovation, including use of electric hand tools
  • Ongoing dust abatement continues (street sweepers, water trucks, hoses, pressure washing)

August 23, 2024

Focus this week is almost entirely on grading and hauling.

    • Primary locations remain the gym and field A areas (southeast sector of the site) and field B (west sector)
    • A temporary soil stockpile will continue to accumulate near the middle of the site to use for recompacting once we reach maximum depth
    • Occasional use of electric hand tools (e.g., saws) to trim lagging planks
    • Gym and field A are approaching, on average, 10’ of graded depth
  • Ongoing dust abatement continues (street sweepers, water trucks, hoses, pressure washing)

August 16, 2024

  • Shoring activities were completed this week
  • Utility work at Bellaire and Valley Spring was also completed this week, with temporary metal plates so that both lanes of travel are open for use.  In a few weeks, new asphalt will be applied and will take 1-2 days.  But in the interim, no work will be underway on the street in that area.
  • Outside of the school’s direct control, LADWP is doing utility work at the corner of Valley Spring and Whitsett.  We are not notified in advance of when work will take place, nor the hours.  The work is to install temporary power to the site, and lay the groundwork for a permanent power system.
  • There will be occasional banging noises for another few days as construction equipment loads steel remnants (from the shoring beams) into a dumpster to haul away.
  • Grading activities continue as follows:
    • Primary locations are the gym and field A areas (southeast sector of the site), with secondary grading for field B (west sector)
    • Gym and field A have been graded to a depth of 6’, moving towards a maximum depth of 21’
  • In addition to the ongoing dust abatement activities (street sweepers, water trucks, hoses), we are pressure washing a large section of Valleyheart at the exit to the property to reduce the amount of loose dust/dirt.

August 9, 2024

  1. Shoring work is just about done, with this work continuing at the same pace as it has been on Monday and Tuesday.  After Tuesday, we expect only periodic activities in order to install a small number of beams (~10) that were missing from the delivery.
    1. Beams are precisely sized for the exact location in which they’ll be installed.  Each one is numbered and installed accordingly.  When we took stock of the initial deliveries, some were missing.  Those have since been delivered and we will finish up with this process quickly.
    2. Monday’s and Tuesday’s shoring activities are farther away from the curbline than they were last week, which should further reduce sound and vibration
    3. The primary rig will still be equipped with a sound blanket to help mitigate noise
  2. Work will continue at Bellaire and Valley Spring to connect a utility line to the City main.  Signage and a flag person are there to facilitate movement of cars and safe crossing for pedestrians. This utility work should be complete by Friday.
  3. Primary grading activities remain the parking garage and gym.  Multiple excavators are in use, along with other grading equipment.  By the end of the week, the garage and gym areas will have been excavated to an estimated 6’ depth.  Maximum depth will be 21’.
  4. Secondary grading activities are taking place in the west/northwest areas of the property to level the Field B area.
  5. Truck volumes are being monitored to ensure compliance with haul requirements
  6. We are aware of a small number of instances when a haul truck driver has not followed the approved haul route.  Each such truck is identified, the driver reminded of the correct route and, if the issue persists, the driver is removed from the job.
  7. Water is being applied via tanker trucks, sprinklers, and hoses at rates that attempt to balance dust mitigation with mud accumulating on tires and treads.
  8. Two street sweepers are in continual circulation along Valleyheart, Whitsett, and Ventura Blvd to mitigate dust/dirt along those stretches.

August 3, 2024

  • Shoring work continues, with a target completion date by week’s end.
    • Monday, and possibly Tuesday, two shoring rigs will be operating along the northeast section of the property, putting in beams for the water reclamation area
    • Work will be done as efficiently as possible, so that the rigs move away from the Valley Spring surrounding and sound/vibration is lessened
    • The primary rig has been equipped with a sound blanket to help mitigate noise
    • Tuesday through Friday, the rigs will shift back toward the middle of the property where the pool will be located
    • Periodic “clanging” noises will be heard as the rig is reset and steel beams are shifted/lifted into position
  • Primary grading activities are in two areas of the site:  the parking garage and gym.  Multiple excavators are in use, along with other grading equipment.
  • Secondary grading activities are taking place in the west/northwest areas of the property to level the Field B area.
  • Truck volumes are being monitored to ensure compliance with haul requirements.
  • Haul truck drivers and companies are regularly reminded of haul route directions and turning restrictions.
  • Water is being applied via tanker trucks, sprinklers, and hoses at rates that attempt to balance dust mitigation with mud accumulating on tires and treads.
  • Two street sweepers are in continual circulation along Valleyheart, Whitsett, and Ventura Blvd to mitigate dust/dirt along those stretches.

July 26, 2024

  • Shoring activities are nearing completion.  We expect to be complete by the end of next week.
  • Grading is underway, focused primarily on the area that will become the parking garage.
  • In addition to the excavating equipment, the construction team is closely monitoring and complying with haul requirements, including limitations on number of trucks and haul hours.

July 19, 2024

Most of next week’s activities are the same as this week, with the only new addition being the possibility that grading / excavation might commence.  If that takes place, excavators will be used to load soil into haul trucks.  Drivers have been notified of the proper haul route and turning requirements, and mitigation is in place to remove soil/dirt from trucks upon their departure.  A street sweeper is used regularly to clean Valleyheart and Valley Spring.

Shoring work is nearing completion, using the same type of equipment and method as previously described (vibration, not impact-driving).  Completion date is likely by end of week.

Trucks to deliver the steel beams (Will be arriving throughout the week.  Not in great volume, just 1 or 2 per day).

Installing the soldier piles, located in the north (where the pool and water reclamation system will be) and south (where the gym will be) sections of the site. Two installation rigs will be used.

Water is regularly applied to the soil, via sprinklers, hoses, and several water trucks.

Flagmen will coordinate truck ingress and egress on Whitsett.

As a reminder, all such activities have been fully permitted.

July 12, 2024

Shoring work continues, using the same type of equipment and method as previously described (vibration, not impact-driving).

  • Trucks to deliver the steel beams (will be arriving throughout the week.  Not in great volume, just 1 or 2 per day)
  • Installing the soldier piles, located in the south section of the site (where the gym will be) and the east/southeast section (where the below grade parking will be)
  • One installation rig will be used
  • Water is regularly applied to the soil, via sprinklers, hoses, and several water trucks
  • Flagmen will be used to coordinate truck ingress and egress
  • Final debris will be removed with the use of bobcat and excavator
  • All such activities have been fully permitted

June 28, 2024

Next week’s construction activity includes the start of a new phase:  shoring.

That is the process whereby the construction team will insert steel beams (called soldier piles) into the ground so that they can shore up the earth as they begin excavation.  The soldier piles will NOT be driven into place (which would produce a fair amount of noise).  Instead, they will use a piece of equipment that vibrates them at the same time that downward pressure is applied.  Far less noisy, and the vibrations are quite localized.

Specific activities will be as follows:

  • Shoring
    • Equipment staging onsite (all equipment and worker vehicles are located onsite)
    • Trucks to deliver the steel beams (will be arriving throughout the week.  Not in great volume, just 1 or 2 per day when needed)
    • Installing of the soldier piles, located in the south section of the site (where the gym will be) and the east/southeast section (where the below grade parking will be)
    • One installation rig will be used initially
    • Flagmen will be used to coordinate truck ingress and egress
    • All such activities have been fully permitted
  • General site preparation
    • Consolidating and removing debris, such as fencing and cut poles Combination of excavators and bobcats will be used
    • Concrete and asphalt have, for the most part, been removed from the site
    • In some areas, removal of the top layer of grass so that clean soil can be exported once we start grading
    • Regular watering of the ground, via sprinklers and water trucks, throughout the day
    • Haul trucks (typically, 15 or fewer per full 8-hour day) will remove the above debris

 

June 21, 2024

Continued consolidation and removal of debris, such as fencing, cut poles and concrete. A combination of excavators and bobcats will be used.

In some areas, removal of the top layer of grass will take place, so that clean soil can be exported once grading begins.

Haul trucks (typically, 15 or fewer per full 8-hour day) will remove the debris.

All such activities are fully permitted.

Workers do not begin construction until after 7 am on weekdays (later on Saturday).  As permitted by code, however, workers are allowed to arrive onsite before 7 am (and initial equipment can be staged, such as the first set of haul trucks).

 

June 14, 2024

Most of our River Park activities for next week are the same as this week.

The tennis courts have been broken up, so all that remains is removal of concrete chunks.

There will be consolidating and removing debris, such as fencing, cut poles, and concrete.  Combination of excavators and bobcats will be used

In some areas, removal of the top layer of grass so that clean soil can be exported once we start grading

Haul trucks (typically, 15 or fewer per full 8-hour day) will remove the above debris.

All such activities are fully permitted.

*Workers do not begin construction until after 7 am on weekdays (later on Saturday), consistent with our regular reminders and monitoring.  As permitted by code, however, workers are allowed to arrive onsite before 7 am (and initial equipment can be staged, such as the first set of haul trucks).

 

June 7, 2024

The last section of tennis courts will be removed by Monday.  This work has been completed right on schedule.

Main activities will consist of consolidating and removing debris, such as fencing, cut poles, and remaining bits of concrete.

Haul trucks (typically, 15 or fewer per full 8-hour day) will remove the above debris.

All such activities are fully permitted.

Workers do not begin construction until after 7 am on weekdays.

 

May 31, 2024

Activities for next week are very similar to this last week:

Continued work on the removal of the tennis courts will take place.  There are now two excavators onsite in order to speed up the process even more.  We recognize that the removal of concrete produces noise, so in addition to the specific techniques we are using we are trying to shave down some of the time.

Workers will be using saws to cut the rebar embedded within the concrete chunks.

Haul trucks (typically, 15 or fewer per full 8-hour day) will remove the above debris.

All such activities are fully permitted.

 

May 24, 2024

Next week the tennis shack will be taken down and removed.

The process to remove the tennis courts will begin.  Rather than use the common approach of scores of workers jack-hammering away for hours on end, we are using an excavator to pull up chunks of concrete and lessen the potential noise impact.

The workers will be using saws to cut the rebar embedded within the concrete chunks.

Clubhouse interior renovation continues, nearing the final stage of material removal from the inside.

As a reminder, all such activities are fully permitted.

 

May 17, 2024

Significant construction efforts are underway, and each month that goes by gets us closer to when the property can be reopened for its new uses, for the public and school alike.

Temporary perimeter fencing is just about installed and, as a reminder, this fencing is required by the City for sound attenuation as specified in the EIR and only during construction.

Construction activities this coming month will primarily consist of removing the tennis courts, asphalt, driving range netting, and affected trees (as they are approved by the biologist who monitors all such removals).

We are already hard at work on the clubhouse remodel, in the hopes that we can have it reopened within a year and with the beloved Café Southwest serving guests again.