The El Dorado Park Duck Pond could finally break ground, again, later this year after dealing with its latest setback earlier this year when a bird’s nest was discovered while crews began to cut down trees around the project area.

Construction is now set to begin in September and could be finished by November 2023, according to Public Works Director Eric Lopez.

The projected $9 million project is expected to address a multitude of issues, including a crumbling walkway that borders the pond and currently presents accessibility and safety issues. Work also includes replacing the pumping and filtration systems and installing new wetlands areas around the pond, which will become a reservoir for reclaimed water to irrigate the neighboring golf course.

“We’re substantially changing the way that pond functions and serves residents and the ability for it to be a real environmental impact for our residents because it will store reclaimed water during the day,” said Councilmember Stacy Mungo-Flanigan, who represented the area of the city before last year’s redistricting process was completed.

Getting the project off the ground has been a struggle for the city. First, it couldn’t get a contractor to bid on the project. When the work was finally awarded to Los Angeles Engineering in December, nesting season derailed the start of the project until later this year.

“A lot of people don’t know that we can’t trim trees from January to September because of nesting,” said Councilmember Daryl Supernaw, who now represents the area that includes the pond. “But those are the rules.”

The project has also faced financing issues as costs have swelled. The pond upgrades were originally expected to cost about $4.5 million, but that figure has doubled. Tuesday’s vote by the council approved a grant application or an additional $3 million the city would need to pay for the project.

The city has about $6 million set aside from the Measure A sales tax, Measure W and Long Beach Water Department funding for the project. Additional funding will be needed to pay for other park improvements like repaving the roadway that has been damaged by tree roots.

Lopez said that once construction starts, the park will remain open, but parking lot around the site will be closed. The city, with the help of the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, will work to relocate animals including an estimated 500 turtles that live in the pond, some of which could be made available for adoption if they’re not placed into other ponds in the park.

“The construction will be impactful but we believe the long-term benefits will outweigh those temporary impacts,” Lopez said.

El Dorado duck pond project could finally move forward with City Council approval Tuesday

Construction on El Dorado Park duck pond to begin despite $2 million funding gap