Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Storm Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burbank parks report 139 trees lost, several facilities closed after high winds
Summary
Parks Department reported storm damage including 139 trees lost and nearly 200 reports of broken branches; multiple parks and facilities remain closed while crews and contractors work to clear debris and assess safety.
The Burbank Parks and Recreation Department reported that high winds tied to nearby fires and weather events damaged public trees and facilities, leaving several sites closed and crews working long shifts to clear debris.
"We, in the city have, lost a 139 trees," Department Director Marie Marcela Garcia said during the Jan. 9 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, adding staff had received "nearly 200 reports of large broken bench branches." Garcia said city and contracted crews have been working up to 14–16 hours daily to clear roads and parks and to prioritize safety.
The department listed multiple closures and service impacts, including Wildwood and Stow Canyon trails, Stow Canyon Nature Center, Verdugo Aquatic Facility, Valley Skate Park, Debelle Golf Course and Driving Range, and many park playgrounds. Indoor sports league games and outdoor recreation classes were canceled; indoor practices continued. Jocelyn Adult Center remained open with adjusted hours; some centers closed early as conditions changed.
Garcia said the department is coordinating with Burbank Unified School District on after‑school care (ASD) program suspensions and is notifying residents through the city’s high‑winds web page and the Our Burbank 311 app. She encouraged residents with private‑property tree damage to contact a private tree‑trimming company and their insurance providers for guidance.
Board members praised staff for their response. "You keep our city safe," one board member said in thanks to crews and staff answering the surge of calls.
The department said it deployed multiple forestry crews and contractors to manage the response; the spoken record referenced nine forestry crews but portions of the transcript were garbled when reporting crew counts. The department warned that it could take weeks to return parks and rights‑of‑way to pre‑storm condition and asked for public patience.
The Parks and Recreation Board will receive further updates as staff continues cleanup and facility assessments.
