by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Travelers in the westbound lanes of Base Line Road may have noticed a small island of healthy foliage blended smoothly into the surrounding scenery between Glen Way and Rhodelia Avenue.

That verdant patch is no lucky accident. And it all began in 2016, when Marlena and Murray Monroe were moving into the neighborhood.

“This was an area that looked like it was not being cared for,” said Marlena Monroe. “And we didn’t want the burden to be put on any of the residents or anything like that.” The couple then asked, “What can we do as a collective effort for our community?”

So, they set about an independent urban landscaping project to transform the stretch from barren to a plot worthy of a spot in the City of Trees.

“It was like tumbleweed mixed with weeds, mixed with plant material, mixed with all sorts of debris off the street or whatever,” Marlena Monroe said. “We just one day just got our jeans on … rolled up our sleeves and I just started pulling away.”

Claremont residents Murray and Marlena Monroe revitalized a barren stretch of Base Line Road into a green space. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

After cleaning up the area, Marlena Monroe called the city to request trees be planted in the now tidy stretch. That call led to a series of meetings with city representatives, an arborist, Golden State Water Company, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

“The concerns are just making sure the maintenance is done and we don’t cause any issues [with utilities, traffic, etc.] or anything like that,” Marlena Monroe said.

After the trees and other foliage were selected and planted, Murray Monroe installed a drip line. By March 2017, the project was complete.

Weed abatement, trimming and watering are just some of the tasks the Monroes carry out regularly. They have spotted a county vehicle providing water to the area on occasion. In September, the area is due for mulching.

Though they declined to say how the project has impacted their water bill, the Monroes said it’s all been worth it.

“Initially it was money that had to be thought about and set aside, yes,” Marlena Monroe said. “It is part of our monthly expense … It is money well spent.

Marlena Monroe said she hope if other residents are inspired to undertake similar projects, they too will first consult the city and local utility companies.

“Obviously you don’t want people to think, ‘Oh well, maybe I can do something if I’ve got the funds or the wherewithal to do it,’” she said. “But like I said, my stage one was just to get it cleaned. And then we thought, gosh, wouldn’t it be pretty if this kind of like separated Base Line from our homes and with some trees?”

“It just felt really good to do something for and give back to the community.”