Council members on Tuesday adopted plans for the DeForest Wetlands restoration project, which is meant to convert large areas of overgrown vegetation into a river parkway with freshwater wetlands, equestrian trails, wildlife habitat, and native plants, while retaining flood control and management properties, according to city officials.

A two-mile stretch of open space along the Los Angeles River in North Long Beach has been approved for a $7.5 million restoration project by the Long Beach City Council this week.

The 39-acre site spans the lower Los Angeles River, south of DeForest Park to Del Amo Boulevard and is bisected by Long Beach Boulevard.

The project is being funded by the County of Los Angeles, California State Coastal Conservancy, California Resources Agency River Parkways Program, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

The project is set to begin in January and estimated to finish by the end of September in 2017.

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1, at 10:00AM at Deforest Park.