La Palma awarded $2 million Congressional appropriation for median project

A projected look at the medians after the work is completed. Courtesy, City of La Palma

This week, President Joe Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022. In this budget bill, there is $2 million in funding from Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez for the City of La Palma’s Arterial Street Medians Rehabilitation Project.

“Our residents will now see a vital project completed in our community, and I look forward to a ground-breaking ceremony later this year,” La Palma Mayor Michele Steggell said in a press release.

“For the first time in over a decade, Members of Congress were able to request funding for specific community projects in the Appropriations funding package. As part of that effort, I am proud that I was able to successfully secure $2 million in funding for the City of La Palma to redesign and revitalize medians across the city,” said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. “Taxpayers deserve to have a say in where their money is spent, and I am glad to have secured this funding at the City’s request.”

Current photo of the median.
Courtesy, City of La Palma.

The project will reconstruct 48 median islands and add three new median islands throughout the City. The islands will include a variety of drought-tolerant plants and trees with a drip irrigation system to significantly reduce water usage and water runoff into the streets, reflecting the City’s commitment to protecting the environment while also improving the aesthetics of our streets. Additionally, the project will be constructed with an ability to use reclaimed water for irrigation in the future to reduce the use of drinkable water.

La Palma Mayor Pro Tem Debbie S. Baker said, “This is a great day for La Palma! I am thrilled and grateful for the support of Congresswoman Sánchez.”

La Palma Council Member Marshall Goodman added, “In La Palma we are fortunate to have excellent relationships with our County, State, and Federal elected officials. Thank you, Congresswoman Sánchez, for your strong support.”

La Palma Council Member Nitesh P. Patel said, “I am proud that during my tenure as Mayor, we secured federal funding to beautify our city’s medians with the assistance from Congresswoman Sánchez. Due to the pandemic, we temporarily postponed the project but now to see this come to fruition with little impact to the city’s budget is a great day for La Palma.”

“As a small city with less resources than our neighbors, this funding will go a long way toward improving La Palma,” said La Palma Council Member Mark I. Waldman.

A special thanks to the following individuals for their letters of support for this project: State Senator Josh Newman, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustee Brian O’Neal,

La Palma Mayor and La Palma Community Foundation President Michele Steggell and La Palma Council Members Nitesh P. Patel and Marshall Goodman.

More information about the project can be found at www.cityoflapalma.org/medians.