Santa Clarita’s curb appeal got a shot in the shoulder Monday morning when a group of officials from the city, county and the West Ranch Town Council took golden shovels to turned-over dirt.

The ceremony was the official kickoff for a beautification project that will change the look of the city’s gateway at Lyons Avenue off the I-5 freeway. Native shrubs and grasses and ornamental trees, along with some coastal live oaks, will create an oak woodland on the four “corners” of the project.

“I know a lot of people have talked for years that they wanted to have more of the city look like it does in Valencia with the pretty landscaping,” explained City Manager Ken Pulskamp. “We’ve been able to get people to approve those through the voter process. And now they’re starting to see those come to fruition with beautification projects happening all throughout the city of Santa Clarita.”

Along with the new plantings, stonework will outline some of the paths, making the area safer for pedestrians.

“This is going to be an opportunity to beautify one of the key entrances in Santa Clarita. As people drive by on the I-5 and get off at Lyons Avenue they are going to have a beautifully landscaped area that’s going to be drought tolerant in keeping with the whole oaks-savanna theme along the I-5,” Pulskamp continued. “We’ll start construction right away and have it all ready for everybody to enjoy by next spring.”