Transforming Communities from the Ground Up

Green Space, Park Access, and Trees

County of Los Angeles

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Green space is associated with a large number of health benefits, including lower premature mortality, longer life expectancy, fewer mental health problems, less cardiovascular disease, better cognitive functioning in children and the elderly, and healthier babies. It also helps to mitigate air pollution, heat and noise levels, and provides opportunities for physical exercise and social interaction. Poorer neighborhoods tend to have less green space with fewer parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities compared to wealthier neighborhoods. These communities may also experience a higher population density, limited public transportation options, and a lack of green infrastructure, which can further limit access to green spaces. Children, our future generation, benefit the most from green space yet it is rarely found on most LA County Schools in low- income neighbors. Additionally, children and staff spend the majority of everyday on campus (averaging 9-10 hours per day).

For decades, the underserved and most vulnerable communities in LA have lacked green and outdoor space," said School Board Member Scott M. Schmerelson. Public schools are community hubs. 1 in 5 Californians visit public schools each year, whether to attend school, to pick up or drop off a child or to engage with other services. Green schoolyards transform asphalt-covered spaces into green space and fight climate change by reducing heat islands in urban areas. Research also shows that green spaces on or around a school campus help improve student well-being, physical and mental health, as well as academic performance. Green schools will create engaged, empowered and proactive leaders of the future, create opportunities for social and emotional development and strengthen local communities. Through this funding, GOG will collaborate with school districts, teachers, community members and partners to design, implement and ensure longevity of green spaces and gardens through student led programs at every school in the Hawthorne School district located in a highly environmentally challenged city. Uniquely, Grades of Green not only provides the resources for implementation of green spaces but ensures their endurance through project based, student-led, NGSS aligned programs. All programs are offered at no cost providing the resources, tools, leadership skills and training for students and teachers in the communities most in need.

A Trust for Public Land analysis found that creating open, nature-filled, parklike settings for every school site would give access to quality green space within a 10-minute walk from home for more than 1 million Angelenos. The Los Angeles Unified School District alone has more than 1,000 schools with approximately 4.8 million people live near these schools. The project will reinvigorate neglected greenery, establish new gardens/tree cover, and provide the structure and training to sustain these green spaces for years to come creating a significant impact on improving the health of community residents surrounding schools. In addition, students will be empowered to create immediate, long lasting change in their schools and communities as they develop the skills and knowledge to become the environmental leaders of the future. All programs incorporate environmental justice education, hands-on projects, data collection and reporting, and program management and leadership development.

GOG is dedicated to creating change through student led projects in the communities most in need. 41% of the CA schools that have the highest pollution burden are located in LA County, identified through CalEnviroScreen, which uses environmental, health, and socioeconomic information to produce scores. These schools are also in communities with the least amount of green space. With a focused and targeted approach, GOG intends to reach every district identified and create gardens, green space and environmental education on every campus. The funding will allow for full school implementation in the Hawthorne School District. Successful implementation during the 2023-2024 school year in the include:1) planning, support and guidance for school district, teachers and schools including tools, resources and training), 2) free environmental project-based education for students/teachers 3) creation of edible gardens, green spaces and trees 4) Community outreach and involvement.

Creating and Implementing green spaces on school campuses requires collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. GOG has ongoing and committed partners committed to providing support for successful implementation including but not limited to the Hawthorne School District, City of Hawthorne, Corporations (Kellogg Organic Gardens, LAcarGuy, etc), Tree-plenish, West Basin Municipal Water District, Supervisor Holly Mitchell and more!