Al Piantanida, founder of the Arleta Watch Dogs, moved to Arleta in the summer of 1984. The first thing he noticed was all the blight in the northeast San Fernando Valley. He made a pact with himself that he would do everything he could to make Arleta the center piece of the northeast San Fernando Valley.
Over the past decades, he has been involved in many improvements that have taken place in Arleta, such as: the closing of many bars with the problems that they caused; supporting many new sewer projects; working with the LAPD, forcing gangs to leave the area; and helping with community support in the building of Arleta High School.
Al has also involved himself with supporting improvements in the Los Angeles City Service Departments, such as street sweeping, adding more streets each year, more street and alley lighting for a safer community, miles of roadway resurfacing, sidewalk repair and replacement. He is involved in many Community Clean-Ups for Green, Clean & Save Community.
Al’s dream for many years has been to upgrade and see new parks and walking paths built here and in the surrounding area for the healthcare of their children and their families.
Then-Councilmember, Tony Cardenas, (CD-6), asked him to become a committee member of PropkLAforkids Project, which funds projects for five city council districts in the San Fernando Valley.
He did represent Council District 6, which received project funding for major refurbishing of Branford Park, walking paths, total remake of all baseball diamonds and sports fields. Also included was a new skate board park serving the Sun Valley-Arleta area, with the most modern design available, and is the largest in the Coty of Los Angeles.
Now, after 30 years of waiting, the final piece is in place for Al’s dream to finally come true. Just two blocks from his home, the large vacant lot on Arleta Ave. where it meets Devonshire, which has been designated for a park for so many years, is a vacant lot no more.
The Gran Opening of the new, “Devonshire/Arleta Park” finally took place in May of this year.
Al Piantanida would like to thank the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Mayor’s Office, Parks Initiative Program
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