After years of waiting, as of this past weekend Silver Lake residents can finally enjoy the “Meadow,” a 6-acre swath of grassy land adjacent to the Silver Lake Reservoir and west of Silver Lake Boulevard that’s been fought over and delayed for several years. It was determined that the Meadow could  be opened to the public because the Reservoir itself will soon be replaced as a drinking water source by underground storage tanks north of Griffith Park (plus restless neighbors fearing outsider encroachment and the destruction of local habitats finally relented). We finally had a spare second to check it out today, and were very impressed.

The grass is lush and healthy, the views are spectacular, and the crowd is under control (at least on a weekday). The $1 million project was paid for by state and city funds. Along with the adjacent new walking path, it’s part of the Silver Lake Master Plan, developed in 2000 by landscape architects Mia Lehrer + Associates. The only caveats: Look both ways when crossing the crazy street toward the park. And no sports and no dogs allowed. This is a lazy man’s paradise.