Emerald Necklace Greenway Implementation Now

Green space, park access, and trees

San Gabriel Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Los Angeles County is one of the nation’s least green metro areas, with low-income communities of color disproportionately harmed by inequitable nature access. A 2015 CalEPA study found eastern L.A. County had the worst urban heat islands in California, raising temperatures as much as 18 degrees Fahrenheit. The American Lung Association’s State of the Air routinely ranks L.A.’s air among the nation’s unhealthiest. Urban overdevelopment and impervious surfaces prevent stormwater and runoff from naturally recharging L.A.’s groundwater; not only does this waste precious resources that should be vital sources of potable water for the dry region that also protect L.A.’s infrastructure against subsidence, but this resource mismanagement subjects the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers and Pacific Coast to massive pollutant loads by sending approximately 100 billion gallons of untreated waters out to sea annually.

This community-based urban greening project will support completion of the next segment of Emerald Necklace Greenway enhancements for the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo River corridors between Monrovia and South El Monte, CA. We will host 16 Emerald Necklace Volunteer Stewardship Events, with community members and families from local high schools, community colleges, universities, service groups, and local businesses. We will review greenway benefits, identify and remove invasive plants, complete site preparation, and plant 40 trees and 450 shrubs, all species drawn from river master plan landscape guidelines. Invasive plant removal and replacement with native understory will enhance biodiversity and protect ecological integrity of river corridors to support local birds, pollinators, and enhanced trail use.
We will work with East L.A. artist Micheal Amescua to design a nature-themed decorative pedestrian and truck gate depicting local endangered birds and butterflies. This heavy-duty metal gate will be visible from a major arterial. Installation is in alignment with our aspiration to replace every chain link gate along the River with original artist-designed gates. We will install a characteristic Emerald Necklace wayfinding banner pole custom designed and permitted by TFN Architectural Signage. Emerald Necklace Natural Infrastructure Fellows will be trained on project design and implementation and will actively participate in hosting stewardship events during field training.

All world-class metro areas need an Emerald Necklace multi-benefit greenway network! Our vision is to complete a vibrant trail network along the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers to connect communities to nature and public lands, featuring a variety of recreation and trail opportunities to promote public health and wellness. Trees provide significant shade benefits. Eastern L.A. County’s urban heat island will worsen in coming years due to climate change and regional fire-related tree canopy loss; Emerald Necklace vegetation will mitigate and buffer impacts moving forward.The greenway is essential for promoting air quality, surface water, and groundwater infiltration capacity, all of which drive climate resilience and sustainability.The project area along the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Rivers winds through many of L.A.’s highest-need low-income communities of color, providing equitable access to urban greening and open space recreational resources.