PLAYLondon Street Garden - From Asphalt to Green Space
The community-led London Street Garden project aims to transform an asphalt-covered heat island into a vibrant CA Native plant public green space in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Key features of the garden include all CA native plants, a berm with an oak tree, educational placards, and an irrigation system to ensure the garden thrives for years to come. The project plans have gone through the necessary approval from city departments and the project requires additional funding to fully finance these restoration efforts and beautify our neighborhood.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Green space, park access, and trees
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Central LA
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
The lack of green space is a pressing urban and environmental issue with wide-ranging impacts on community, health, social equity, and ecological resilience. We found our cul-de-sac in Region 2 was historically underserved and densely populated with limited access to safe, well-maintained park, gardens or natural areas. This scarcity disproportionately affects low-income, marginalized communities, contributing to health disparities such as higher rates of depression, anxiety and respiratory conditions. Also, insufficient green space limits community cohesion, weakens local ecosystems, and reduces a neighbohoods ability to mitigate the effects of climate change. Proactively, we surveyed the neighborhood to understand the desires for the space. Many expressed excitement for a green, native, beautified cul-de-sac. This project supports both the needs expressed directly by our community and the goals listed in the Los Angeles (Silver Lake - Echo Park - Elysian Valley) Community Plan.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
This is an area severely lacking in green space, and disproportionally affected by pollution and other hazards; transforming this current heat island into a green space would help to mitigate these issues as well as beautify the community. It has already begun to foster community and joy in the anticipation of the coming garden.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
The London Street Garden will foster community unity by providing a space for residents to appreciate native plants, local wildlife, and the broader ecological functions, such as water retention. Community members will have a peaceful garden to visit during neighborhood walks, promoting relaxation and enhancing overall wellness. The significance of urban green spaces and their positive impact on mental health was particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this garden will undoubtedly contribute to the well-being of current and future community members. Our hope is also that this can inspire others to adopt other medians in the community, and work together toward other restoration efforts that support the goals of the Silver Lake - Echo Park - Elysian Valley Community Plan. In fact, we are drafting a blueprint of our efforts for this project to share with the Neighborhood Councils, to guide and encourage others in similar efforts.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 3,472
Indirect Impact: 0