Buchanan St. Elementary School Greening Project

Reimagining what public school campuses should look like

Location: 5024 Buchanan St, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Timeline: 2020 – 2025

Funded By: California Natural Resources Agency, Prop 68 Green Infrastructure Program

Project Partners: Los Angeles Unified School District, Streets LA, Occidental College, Claire Latané

This multi-benefit project will revitalize a public elementary school, with nearly 100% asphalt coverage, into a verdant outdoor learning atmosphere. Located in a critically under-served and low-income neighborhood, and serving the nearby severely disadvantaged community, this project will transform an asphalt dominated 3.88 acre public school campus by removing over 20,000 sq. feet of asphalt and replacing it with large trees, native plants, natural boulders, and a series of drought tolerant wildflower meadows that captures, cleans and reuses urban runoff.

Project elements include:

• At least 50 trees at Buchanan St Elementary to help improve air quality, shade buildings and provide natural beauty

• At least 75 trees along nearby streets to create safe green walking connections

• Natural bioswales/raingardens to capture stormwater and improve water quality

• Employment of local youth

• Community driven outreach and engagement

• Educational/Interpretive signs

• Passive recreation elements