Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan

The Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan reimagines the future of the more than 2,000-acre flood basin in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. For the surrounding communities, the basin already serves as a hub for many local recreational activities as well as a biodiversity hot-spot, and a haven for reduced urban heat island effects. The Vision Plan builds on these existing elements and proposes to make the basin an even greater asset for the communities and the region.

The plan is based on a nearly two-year community-based process and needs assessment which resulted in proposed designs that can be implemented in phases, maximizing opportunities and access for recreational uses enhancing natural habitats, wildlife areas, and water quality throughout the basin, LA River, and its tributaries.

The objectives of the Vision Plan include increasing resilience of the basin and nearby neighborhoods, increasing the ecosystem’s function using nature-based strategies, as well as creating a natural function of the LA River and tributaries. Additionally, the plan proposes improving the interface between recreation and ecological areas, including water quality of streams and outlets entering the basin, enhancing multi-modal transportation access to and within the basin, and revamping recreational, educational, and cultural programming.

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Status

Design In Progress

Project Types

Park, Plan

Owner

City of Los Angeles

Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering

Key Team Members

Jessica M. Henson, Partner-in-Charge

Chi-Tsai Liu, Associate

Nate Wooten, Associate

Sarah Swanseen, Senior Landscape Architect

Evangeline Sheridan, Landscape Designer

Kate Lawler, Visual Communications Manager

© OLIN © Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan, City of LA Bureau of Engineering, Geosyntec, Agency Artifact, OLIN © OLIN © OLIN © OLIN © OLIN © OLIN © OLIN © OLIN
Status

Design In Progress

Project Types

Park, Plan

Owner

City of Los Angeles

Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering

Key Team Members

Jessica M. Henson, Partner-in-Charge

Chi-Tsai Liu, Associate

Nate Wooten, Associate

Sarah Swanseen, Senior Landscape Architect

Evangeline Sheridan, Landscape Designer

Kate Lawler, Visual Communications Manager

Awards

2025, American Society of Landscape Architects, Southern California Chapter, Analysis & Planning Category, Honor Award

2025, American Planning Association, California Chapter, Urban Design Category, Award of Excellence

2025, American Planning Association, Los Angeles Chapter, Urban Design Category, Award of Excellence

2024, American Institute of Architects, California Chapter, Urban Design Category, Merit Award

2024, World Landscape Architecture, Analysis & Planning Category, Honor Award

2024, American Society of Landscape Architects, Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter, Analysis & Planning Category, Honor Award

2024, Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Awards, Urban Planning/Landscape Architecture