A new contest in the 13th City Council District will promote civic pride and water conservation during one of the worst droughts in recent history while beautifying the neighborhood through a community improvement initiative called Project Parkway.

Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, announced the initiative on Monday, which was developed to encourage residents to become proactive in community enhancement projects by making improvements on the parkways — or the strip of lawn in front of homes between the sidewalk and the curb. Residents are encouraged to replace turf grass with California-friendly plants, mulch and permeable pathways.

“Throughout my time in public service, I have been a firm believer that good government empowers people with the knowledge and tools they deserve to make a positive difference in their community,” O’Farrell said. “We are in a severe drought right now, and as we prepare to reduce our water usage even further in the coming months, now is a perfect time to educate ourselves on drought tolerant landscaping and the different ways to improve the look and feel of our neighborhoods.”

Residents with the best before-and-after pictures will be presented with a Project Parkway Certificate of Appreciation from the council office. The photos will also be featured in the O’Farrell’s weekly newsletter and website.

Project Parkway uses basic guidelines from the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services (BSS) and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) that provide residents with a variety of drought-tolerant and native plants that will look great while conserving water and saving money, O’Farrell said.

Participants are encouraged to choose from a list of city approved plants and flowers that require no revocable permit.

Residents may choose more elaborate designs, but a revocable permit from the BSS may be required. Suggested plants, that are approved for DWP rebate program in parkways, include: Common Yarrow, Woolly Yarrow, Chamomile, Indian Mock Strawberry, Dymondia, Beach Strawberry, Green Carpet, Rupture Wart, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Lippia, Creeping Thyme, Elfin Creeping Thyme, Minus Creeping Thyme, Woolly Thyme and Mother-of-Thyme.