By Khalida Sarwari
In welcoming the fall season, the city of Saratoga recently unveiled a beautification project along the median of one of the city’s thoroughfares.
The Fruitvale Avenue Median Beautification Project was a joint effort between the city and West Valley College, and included the installation of an irrigation system and the addition of landscaping to the Fruitvale Avenue medians from Allendale Avenue to San Marcos Road. The work also included restoration of the median edge and the repair of the drainage system.
The project cost nearly $144,000 to complete, and funding was derived from three primary sources. About $90,000 was contributed by West Valley College, which went toward a portion of the median improvements from Allendale Avenue to Douglass Lane. A portion of the project, from Douglass Lane to San Marcos Road, was paid for by the Fariba family–specifically Marjan Fariba, a local real estate agent, and her son Kia, former chairman of the Saratoga Youth Commission. The city provided the remaining $50,000 through its gas tax revenue.
Ahead of a Sept. 5 ribbon- cutting ceremony to celebrate the project’s completion, the city released a statement in which Mayor Jill Hunter expressed appreciation to the college for its generous donation.
“I hope that the city’s residents are pleased with the outcome and will take notice of all the beautiful flowers, plants and trees down Fruitvale Avenue, one of our major thoroughfares,” she said.
West Valley College President Brad Davis praised the collaborative work of the city and college.
“From the college’s perspective, the city manager and city council could not be any more supportive of our ambitions to beautify and modernize the college for the next generation of students, and we cherish that friendship,” Davis said.
The city anticipates spending an estimated $14,400 annually to maintain the median.
