Natural Resources Agency Announces $28 Million in Urban Greening Program Awards

Published Date:

SACRAMENTO – The California Natural Resources Agency today announced $28.5 million in funding for projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and provide multiple benefits including expanding access to parks and green spaces in underserved areas across the state.  

The funding will support 25 projects that convert built environments into green spaces, such as replacing asphalt with native plants, pollinator gardens and nature-based outdoor play areas or constructing new commuter paths to reduce vehicles miles traveled. The grants are part of the Urban Greening Grant Program funded by Cap-and-Trade revenues, also known as the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). 

“Access to the outdoors for all Californians is more important than ever,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Time spent in parks and amidst trees improves our physical and mental health and enhances our wellbeing. Unfortunately, too many Californians live in communities without green spaces and tree cover. The projects announced today focus on these communities, bringing parks, trees and open space to large and small communities across the state.”

Assembly Bill 74 (Chapter 23, Statutes of 2019) allocated $30 million from the GGRF to the Natural Resources Agency for green infrastructure projects that reduce GHG emissions and provide multiple benefits.  

A few projects are highlighted below, with the full list of projects following.

Literacy for Environmental Justice was awarded $361,406 to restore half an acre of land along the San Francisco Bay Shoreline at a community garden within Bayview Hunters Point. The restoration includes planting native trees and shrubs and will provide wildlife habitat, stormwater retention, and invasive species reduction. The project will serve as a green campus and living seed library providing educational experiences for youths and adults. 

The City of Parlier was awarded $2,878,230 to acquire a vacant lot of land to develop a new community park adjacent to a low-income housing development. The park will create open green space by planting trees and drought-tolerant landscaping and building permeable pathways, a playground and other amenities.

Tree People was awarded $787,938 to create a living schoolyard at Pacoima Middle School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The project includes removing asphalt and replacing it with native trees, shrubs, nature-based outdoor educational play areas and native/pollinator gardens. 

The Riverside County Transportation Department was awarded $1,093,708 to create two green street corridors in the community of  Mecca. The project includes planting trees and developing a pocket park within a park-poor and tree-poor community.  

The City of Fullerton was awarded $1,777,200 to construct a half-mile multi-use side-by-side pedestrian and Class I bicycle paths. The project will fill a gap connecting the city's eastern and western sections and transform a former railroad right-of-way. The project includes planting trees, shrubs, water capture components, and other trail amenities. 

FULL LIST OF AWARDS

Alameda County:

  • The Trust for Public Land, $1,101,400, Bridges Academy Green Schoolyard Project

Contra Costa County:

  • Groundwork Richmond, Inc., $900,000, Treefense: Best Offense is a Good Tree Fence.

Fresno County:

  • City of Parlier, $2,878,230, City of Parlier Community Park Development.

Imperial County:

  • City of El Centro, $1,143,831, City of El Centro Construction of Buena Vista Park.

Kern County:

  • Kern County, $815,700, Panorama Vista Preserve Greening & Connectivity Project.
  • City of Wasco, $2,200,047, Central Avenue Neighborhood Park.

Los Angeles County:

  • Amigos de los Rios, $764,852, Emerald Necklace Jackson Watershed Discovery Campus.
  • CCC Foundation, $1,182,313, Grant Elementary Greening Project.
  • City of Baldwin Park, $342,850, Big Dalton Wash Trail Pocket Park.
  • City of Bell Gardens, $346,408, Trees for BG Planting Project.
  • City of La Verne, $561,825, Arrow Highway Urban Greening Project.
  • City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Street Services, $713,804, Broadway-Manchester Active Transportation Equity Project.
  • Koreatown Youth and Community Center, $360,000, South Los Angeles Urban Greening.
  • Los Angeles County, Department of Parks and Recreation, $560,000, Magic Johnson Park Shade Equity Tree Planting Project.
  • Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, $1,480,837, Esperanza Elementary Urban Greening Project.
  • TreePeople, $787,938, The Pacoima Middle School Living Schoolyard.

Mendocino County:

  • City of Ukiah, $3,563,212, South Ukiah Link to Active Living (SoUL).

Orange County:

  • City of Fullerton, $1,777,200, Union Pacific Trail Phase II.

Riverside County:

  • City of Perris, $455,000, Perris Green City Farm and Community Park Access Enhancement.
  • Riverside County, Transportation Department, $1,093,708, Mecca Neighborhood Park and Greening Project.

San Diego County:

  • San Diego County, $1,000,000, Fallbrook Local Park.

San Francisco County:

  • Literacy for Environmental Justice, $361,406, Healthy Habitats & Lifestyles Project – Phase III.

San Luis Obispo County:

  • City of San Luis Obispo, $1,705,225, Anholm Neighborhood Greenway.

Solano County:

  • Solano Transportation Authority, $410,180, SF Bay Trail (Enterprise Dr. Gap Closure).

Tulare County:

  • City of Farmersville, $1,994,034, Farmersville Community Park Phase 4: Freedom Field.

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