For the past eight decades, Covina's Second Street has been a rather bleak expanse of asphalt, but look how pretty it used to be! From 1923-1949, Second had a 16-foot-wide median strip1,2 running from San Bernardino Road south to Badillo that was graced by 48 Queen palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana). They called it "Second Street Park."3
Looking north on Second Street from College Street, c.1940. Photo courtesy Covina Valley Historical Society c/o Powell Camera Shop.
So why was this visually-appealing landscaping done away with? You guessed it: parking.2 Initially, the palms were replanted along the sidewalks and elsewhere,3 but eventually all but one of them were removed. This single, solitary palm at the northeast corner of the Badillo alley is now all that remains of old Second Street Park.
Source: Google Street View.
Kind of sad, isn't it? Wouldn't it be nice if Covina were to re-beautify Second in the 21st century? I can hardly think of another major street in town that is more in need of aesthetic improvement.
References:
1 Covina Argus, July 28, 1922, p.1.
2 Covina Argus-Citizen, April 4, 1947, p.8.
3 Covina Argus-Citizen, June 18, 1948, p.1.
I appreciate your question about re-beautifying the downtown Covina area. It's in desperate need of it, unless the residents wish to go the way of every city in central San Fernando Valley, with decaying storefronts , stagnant homes values and the inescapable air of defeat. Trees add life and beauty (and shade!) to a town, fostering pride and appreciation, something Pasadena and San Marino got right and protect to this day. I grew up in Covina, too. It needs care.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of 2nd looking south from College shows a church on the corner.
ReplyDeleteLater this was the First Baptist church, the church where I was raised.
Do you know if it was the same building, or an entire new structure?