 |
 |
 |
VAN ZANTEN & WHITE DEVELOPMENT |
"Your standard of living just got higher" |
|
|
|
What's the Tree Section?
by David White
 |
Typical views in "The Trees" |
 |
The "Tree Section" is a beautiful, family-oriented residential area of Manhattan Beach known for its lovely tree-lined (and in many cases, tree-named) streets, roads, and avenues. Also known as "The Trees," this area is bounded by Rosecrans Avenue to the north, Sepulveda Blvd. to the east, Manhattan Beach Blvd. to the south, and the Manhattan Beach "Sand Section" to the west.
The Tree Section is home to beach bungalows and considerable new development as well, contributing to a diverse and ever-changing appearance from block to block. Benefitting as it does from the town's outstanding schools, it has become a haven for young families preferring to invest in real estate than in private school tuition. At the same time, numerous residents have lived in the Tree Section for as many as 40 years, some maintaining their original homes and others beautifying the neighborhood with attractive remodels or complete rebuilds. Neighbors young and old come together for locally hosted block parties during the summertime, and lemonade stands are a frequent sight. |
The Tree Section includes a number of curbless streets, plus several blocks (most notably along 24th St. and 31st St.) whose then residents voted to have gaslights installed for attractive lighting some years ago. Utility undergrounding initiatives, though costly, hold the promise of further beautifying The Trees.
The Tree Section is bisected from northeast to west by the meandering Greenbelt, which runs between Valley Dr. and Ardmore Ave. Once the route of Red Car trains used by many to access the area, the Greenbelt is now a well-maintained walking and running path, lined of course with lush stands of trees. |
 |
|
Tree Section of Manhattan Beach (color) |
Live Oak Park, at 1901 Valley Dr., borders on the Tree Section, and is home to the city's annual Old Hometown Fair as well as two of the city's nicest Little League fields, Live Oak Field and Dorsey Field, plus six tennis courts, a dog park, the Joslyn Community Center, a play area, and the Tot Lot.
Sand Dune Park, at the west end of 33rd Street, features an unique 100-foot high sand dune, plus a play area for kids. |
 |
Live Oak Park (L) and Sand Dune Park (R). Note all the trees! |
 |
Jack Gillespie and David White, two of the developers of Tree Section Estates II, own homes in the Tree Section, as did Jim Van Zanten for many years. David serves on the Manhattan Canopy Committee, a team dedicated to preserving and enhancing the population of beautiful trees for which the Tree Section is named. |
|
|
|