Los Angeles Parks Foundation’s (www.laparksfoundation.org) has implemented an ambitious City-wide “LA Park Forests” initiative in Los Angeles, which seeks to plant 10 forests a year in LA City Parks in response to climate change.  Trees and shade in urban environments are more important than ever, especially given the disproportionate effects of heat on low-income communities. Adding micro-forests to city parks helps combat the urban heat island effect, close the climate gap, and grow the urban canopy. LA Parks Foundation’s Executive Director, Carolyn Ramsay, started the process after being inspired by the City of Paris planting trees along sidewalks in order to fight climate change and she hopes other U.S. cities will be inspired by the Los Angeles Park Forests initiative.

This activation is incredibly timely given the current administration’s just-released statement on the urgent need to combat the national heat crisis as part of the growing dangers posed by warming temperatures, especially on the heels of the record summer heat. As part of this, Los Angeles Parks Foundation hopes that people will realize parks are essential city infrastructure that directly impact our health and quality of life and should be invested in like roads and bridges.

With the generous funding and support of The Sikand Foundation and Council Member Kevin de León, the next forest planting is on September 30 at LA’s Hollenbeck Park in the Boyle Heights district. This follows on the heels of successful recent forest installations at six other parks, including Lemon Grove Park in Hollywood, Mar Vista Recreation Center, the Miyiwaki Forest at Bette Davis Picnic Area, Robert Burns Park Forest, 29 Canary Island Pines in Griffith Park, and Ross Snyder Recreation Center in South LA.

Parks are an essential component of what constitutes a great city. The Los Angeles Parks Foundation’s mission is to enhance, expand, preserve, and promote public recreation, parks, and open space for the diverse people of Los Angeles. Planting trees as one of the most important investments in communities and these micro-forests help offset carbon footprints, improve air quality, cool surface temperatures, and educate the public about climate change.

Park Forests also help grow the urban canopy and provide new shade coverage in high-need urban neighborhoods, which experience hotter temperatures as well as foster native wildlife habitats and restore fire damage in communities affected by recent wildfires.

In partnership with Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Parks Foundation aims to plant thousands of new trees citywide in the coming years. For more information visit: https://www.laparksfoundation.org