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
- Amy Hutzel Appointed New Executive Officer of the State Coastal ConservancyThe State Coastal Conservancy is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Executive Officer, Amy Hutzel. Ms. Hutzel previously served as the Conservancy’s Deputy Executive Officer and has been with the agency for over twenty years, during which she has been instrumental in many key projects including the restoration of thousands of acres of […] (Read more on Amy Hutzel Appointed...)
- Coastal Stories Grant Program Launched to Support Inclusive Storytelling about the California CoastThe Coastal Conservancy has launched a new grant program that intends to make the outdoors more inclusive and welcoming for all Californians by fostering representation of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and other historically excluded groups in outdoor spaces – through storytelling. Our Coastal Stories Grant Program seeks to fund projects that plan, develop, […] (Read more on Coastal Stories Grant...)
- $500 million to be Appropriated to Coastal Conservancy for Coastal Resilience over two yearsOn September 23, 2021, Governor Newsom signed a budget bill that includes a total of $500 million for coastal resilience to be appropriated to the State Coastal Conservancy in Fiscal Years 2022-23 and 2023-24. This coastal resilience funding is part of the larger climate resilience budget package that demonstrates the State of California’s commitment to […] (Read more on $500 million to...)
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