In a major step toward improving air quality and walkability in Boyle Heights, the city of Los Angeles recently planted 1,400 new street trees along multiple corridors in the neighborhood.
The initiative, led by the Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) Tree Team, focuses on planting greenery in communities that lack tree cover. The effort was made possible with support from several organizations. City Plants provided 500 trees for the project, while the L.A. Conservation Corps helped plant and maintain the trees.
“By planting trees, we aim to provide shade equity for residents of Los Angeles, promote environmental justice throughout the city and strengthen community ties,” said Paul Gomez, a public relations representative for the Department of Public Works.
Where were trees planted?
Tree planting took place near green spaces including Pecan Recreation Center, Hollenbeck Park, Boyle Heights Sports Center Park, Evergreen Cemetery and Wabash Recreation Center.
Key street corridors that received trees include Matthews, Fickett, Mott, Breed, Cesar E. Chavez and Cummings, among others.
The newly planted species – Purple Orchid, Coast Live Oak, African Sumac, Pink Trumpet, and Desert Willow – were selected for their drought tolerance, urban resilience and support for native wildlife.
More than 12,600 square feet of concrete was removed to create new tree wells. It is estimated that the trees will capture approximately 5,750 metric tons of carbon throughout their lifetime, the equivalent of getting 1,250 cars off the road, according to LASAN.
Why it matters for Boyle Heights
A 2016 Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment by L.A. County designated Boyle Heights and East L.A. as having a “very high park need.”
A report published in 2020 by the Prevention Institute in partnership with UCLA, Promesa Boyle Heights and other organizations found that increasing park acreage in L.A. County areas that are park-poor and have low levels of tree canopy can increase life expectancy.
“This is especially important in communities like Boyle Heights and East L.A., where the median life expectancy is 80 years, well below the upper bound for the county as a whole. About 15 miles away in the community of Beverly Hills, the life expectancy is about 90 years—ten years higher,” the report states.
Research also shows that people living in areas with fewer trees are more likely to die earlier than those living in areas with more green infrastructure. One study in 2022 found that three trees can lower the chance of health-related deaths by around 1%.
According to LASAN, the new trees will provide shade on the sidewalks and reduce street temperatures, lowering the risk of heat-related illnesses as they mature.
Additional benefits include:
- Cleaner air and reduced risk of asthma and other respiratory conditions
- Enhanced beauty and walkability of streets across the neighborhood
- A more sustainable and interconnected environment
- Increased comfort for daily outdoor activities
