Urban Greening
In many urban areas, there are opportunities to create greener, more environmentally sustainable and livable communities by creating new parks, improving existing parks and green spaces, and planting trees. If designed correctly, these projects can infiltrate stormwater, improve groundwater recharge, and improve water quality. Projects may also provide additional benefits such as reducing urban heat island effects, improving air quality, increasing walkability and increasing neighborhood safety.
The Conservancy has helped plan and construct several multi-benefit urban greening projects in many coastal cities. With Proposition 1 funds the Conservancy will implement more projects of this type that incorporate many green infrastructure elements, including water retention and storage, and shade trees for heat relief. These are projects that provide at least two of the following benefits:

Rainwater Harvesting Project in LA
- Increasing groundwater recharge
- Reducing urban runoff
- Improving water quality
- Improving urban watershed health
- Creating public green-space
- Expanding urban forests.
Los Angeles Urban Greening
The Conservancy’s L.A. Urban Greening program is a $11.5 million multi-year program to expand open space and support water quality in under-served communities in Los Angeles.
The program is composed of multi-benefit projects that:
- Create new parks and improve existing parks and green spaces
- Improve groundwater recharge, reduce storm water runoff and improve coastal water quality
- Help cool down neighborhoods with native plantings
- Create urban greenways with bike and pedestrian paths
- Improve recreation opportunities in park-poor neighborhoods
- Support the restoration of the L.A. River
The Coastal Conservancy has been designing and funding Urban Greening projects in Los Angeles county since 2008. In a city known for its concrete sprawl, we have been working to introduce green spaces and green infrastructure to communities that have been historically deprived of natural spaces. Through our Climate Ready program we have funded projects to increase the city’s resilience to climate change and water scarcity. These Urban Greening projects support LA’s journey towards becoming a greener, more sustainable and healthier city.
An interactive map of our projects in Los Angeles can be found here.
Project News
- Coastal Conservancy Adopts Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Guidelines; Awards $7.8 Million for Coastal Restoration, Preservation and Public AccessOakland, CA – This week, the Board of the California State Coastal Conservancy unanimously adopted guidelines for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and awarded $7.8 million to 13 projects to protect and restore the California coast and San Francisco Bay, and increase public access to these natural resources. The JEDI Guidelines will steer […] (Read more on Coastal Conservancy Adopts...)
- Deadlines Extended for Grant ApplicationsDue to the COVID-19 precautions in place throughout California, we have extended the application deadline for our North Coast Proposition 1 grants to April 27, and for Explore the Coast grants to April 20. For more information, please see the links below: Explore the Coast Grant Applications are due March 30, 2020 April 20, 2020 […] (Read more on Deadlines Extended for...)
- Working with the Conservancy during Coronavirus PrecautionsA message from our Executive Officer, Sam Schuchat: This message is to let you know how we at the Conservancy are coping with the Coronavirus outbreak, and what you as a grantee, contractor, prospective grantee, or interested citizen can do to help us keep moving forward. As you are aware, seven of the nine […] (Read more on Working with the...)


