Children's Garden: Nature Play for ALL

Green Space, Park Access, and Trees

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative

People have disproportionate access to nature in LA. Greenspace, parks and trees are not readily available to everyone, as showcased in a National Geographic article from July 2021, which showed how lower-income areas of LA have increased hardscape and fewer trees then affluent neighborhoods. While one might be able to travel to green spaces outside of their neighborhoods, there are other barriers too. Physical barriers include ADA access and safety. Emotional barriers include feeling unwelcome due to ethnicity or socioeconomic status, fear of the outdoors, and lack of interest. Economic barriers can also be a challenge. This is a crisis of human wellbeing and a crisis for the environment. Playtime in nature lowers one's blood pressure, increases overall health and improves mood. People who spend time in nature are more likely to advocate for the health of our planet. We need to find creative ways to connect Los Angeles to our natural world.

To connect all to the wonders of nature, SCBG will build the Children and Family Garden (CFG). CFG will provide children with a gentle invitation into nature, with welcoming experiences that serve as a first-step in raising nature-connected grown-ups. The kids that play here will take home deeply positive emotional souvenirs. They will be more likely to seek out other nature activities (such as hiking, birdwatching, camping and mountain biking) as they grow. 3.5 acres of whimsical plant-focused displays will WOW visitors. Oversized hummingbird sculptures teaming with living flowers will greet guests as they enter through a lush habitat with adventurous offshoots featuring climbing nets to encourage everyone to get a closer look at the botanicals. A canopy walk will reach high into the trees, with a bouncing suspension bridge and giant nests for critter spotting. A waterfall will encourage water play on hot days while a fossil dig will tell the story of the unique soil conditions of Palos Verdes. A great plant maze will invite games of hide-and-seek. SCBG is particularly suited to reduce the barriers to nature for Los Angeles, as we are a space that is proud of our "trashy past." Founded atop of a garbage landfill, SCBG does not have the underlying stuffiness found at other attractions. Ours is a story of recovery, reclamation and regeneration. SCBG is committed to access, with a universally accessible CFG design, and DEI initiatives embedded in our strategic priorities.

By 2050, one million of the children that visited CFG will be nature-connected adults. They will have all of the positive health benefits that nature provides - as they enjoy hiking, biking, birdwatching and camping as part of their lives. These people will make policy changes to ensure greenspace is available in all neighborhoods; they will make sustainable choices in their own lives and in business; they will raise nature-connected children. Short-term impacts include increased access to nature for LA. We anticipate 100,000 additional annual visitors, many of which will enjoy their first toe-dip into nature while on school field trips. The warm and fun atmosphere of CFG will disarm preconceived fears of nature (bugs, snakes, getting dirty). Little visitors will be excited to explore the Bloom and Sprout Garden, where they will learn where their food comes from. Children will dig with delight in the Marine Fossil Dig, which highlights the local soil conditions.

While CFG is a new initiative, it builds on existing Garden programming. Our longstanding Day of Discovery program with LAUSD Beyond the Bell has warmed up schoolchildren to nature, making them less afraid and more willing to participate in the 5th grade camp-outs. Long-term studies suggest this is yielding nature-connected, environmentally-minded adults. The family programming provided by the Garden has been cultivating nature-connected families that return to the Garden on average 4 times per year, some as many as 300 days per year! Short-term CFG success will be measured in visitorship. We anticipate 100,000 additional guests per year (450,000 total garden guests annually) that will continue to reflect the diverse make-up of Los Angeles. We expect to serve a wider geographic range of Los Angeles County, with regional visitorship attracted by the new amenity. CFG will become an important hub for school field trips. Post visit surveys and analysis will further measure success.