Rolling Into the Wild

Green space, park access, and trees

San Gabriel Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

After the compounding impacts of the Los Angeles fires following the COVID-19 pandemic, green spaces are one of the few resources where people can find comfort and create stronger community bonds. Historical exclusion of minority and low-income populations has created a current lack of equitable green spaces to these populations which are vital for their physical and mental health. Los Angeles County has the least amount of equitable park space amongst urban areas in the United States according to a study done by local urban planners. People of color are underserved by their local green spaces and parks system and are overrepresented in areas of concentrated environmental burdens. In a 2022 Parks Needs Assessment, LA County also found one of the main barriers to accessible green spaces was a general lack of knowledge of the green recreational areas and resources. The need to access green spaces increases with environmental degradation, economic turmoil, and health decline.

Our project aims to increase frequent use of green spaces for the Los Angeles community by fostering human connectedness and creating opportunities for learning. Growing Roots will connect with a grassroot organization, All Wheels Pomona, to primarily establish safe biking and skating routes to approved green locations. The routes will be chosen based on safety firstly and also for connecting low-income, majority minority neighborhoods to green spaces. The Pomona Valley has many underutilized green spaces worth exploring and with community awareness are able to be used as safe, joint-learning spaces. These green spaces will include parks, urban farms, and open spaces. After these routes are established, events will be created in the “end” locations where people can learn topics on establishing resilient communities. Over a ten month period, 20 events will be held at more than 15 green spaces. This will create increased awareness of green spaces and foster human connections where people can learn and play together. Individuals will learn new skills to interact with green spaces such as foraging, plant identification, and ethnobotany. Growing Roots aims to provide creative interactions between the community and its green spaces by hosting events related to sustaining a resilient community amongst vulnerable populations

Rolling Into the Wild will benefit Los Angeles County by fostering communities who are investing in the preservation and regeneration of our natural world. This aligns with LA2050’s long term goal of all Angelenos having the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a sustainable environment. Our project aims to achieve this by working to fulfill two main objectives: 1) Increase the frequency of individuals visiting green spaces, and 2) teaching individuals new ways to interact with said green spaces and the different natural resources present. Intended outcomes of the project include increased awareness of green spaces in the Pomona Valley and new skills acquired to interact with the natural resources present at each location. Long term outcomes include residents that are more active, regulated, and have improved wellbeing. The plan is for Rolling Into the Wild to continue beyond grant funding through community partner connections made during this project and additional sponsors.