On Saturday, the City of Baldwin Park held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of the Calino Avenue Storm Drain and Sewer Improvement Project. The project, completed June 27, addresses longstanding infrastructure issues that have affected Calino Avenue residents for three decades.
“This ribbon-cutting marks a step towards a better quality of life for Calino Avenue residents and demonstrates the city’s commitment to making infrastructure improvements that will benefit all Baldwin Park residents,” said Baldwin Park Mayor Emmanuel J. Estrada. “With this project, we’ve addressed long-standing issues of flooding, lack of proper drainage and environmental risks posed by outdated septic tanks.”
The project included connecting 12 homes to the city’s newly constructed sewer main line extension, eliminating risks associated with aging septic tanks, such as leaks and overflows. Additionally, new storm drains, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and street improvements were implemented to enhance neighborhood safety and accessibility.
This nearly $900,000 project was funded by the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA), allowing the city to complete these infrastructure improvements without using the general fund or increasing the tax burden on residents. This use of federal funds allowed the city to address a critical local need that might otherwise have remained unresolved for years.
The project’s completion also highlights the impact of community advocacy. Residents who brought attention to this issue in council meetings dating back to 2015 played a crucial role in driving this change.
“This project demonstrates that when our community speaks, we listen,” Mayor Estrada added. “It may have taken time, but we delivered on our promise to address these longstanding concerns, improving not just infrastructure but also property values and overall quality of life in this neighborhood.”
For more information about the Calino Avenue Storm Drain and Sewer Improvement Project or other infrastructure initiatives in Baldwin Park, visit BaldwinPark.com.
