A beautiful spring day was the perfect setting for the unveiling of the new, more pedestrian-friendly Creekside Road, home to nearly every car dealer in Santa Clarita, where, in the past, traffic has been a challenge.

With new landscaping and the addition of civic hardscape such as traffic bollards and paving bulb-outs, the vehicle-centric street is now more set for strolling and shopping instead of darting from side to side when considering a new car.

We’re celebrating the completion of the project,” said city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz, explaining that the beautification efforts were financed through a landscape maintenance district supported by the auto dealers and businesses on Creekside.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking news alerts delivered right to your inbox

Mayor Marsha McLean seemed pretty excited about the improvements along the street, which go much further than new plants or striping.

“The completion of the improvements along Creekside and the additions of directional signage along this street as well as the way-finding signage in the medians of Valencia, McBean and Magic Mountain Parkway will lead visitors to the area and create a unique sense of place.”

“The new Creekside Road improvements include three new pedestrian crossings with bulb-outs between Auto Center Drive and Valencia Boulevard. The bulb-outs include colorful pavers along the sidewalk area, drought-tolerant planting and irrigation and garden seat walls with stone veneer.”

Also new to Creekside are trash cans and additional pedestrian signage, as well as traffic-slowing bollards or metal posts that enhance pedestrian safety at each crossing.

City dignitaries and representatives of the various car dealers along Creekside gathered for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting before breaking bread on The Signal office’s lawn.

McLean also recognized new facilities built by BMW and Honda, a facade improvement by The Signal and announced that a new KIA dealership will soon join the Creekside lineup, as their management company, California Super Stores, has purchased the Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep dealerships.