Next Phase Urban Cooling Program Continues
As part of the city’s efforts to continue to mitigate climate change and reduce urban heat, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and StreetsLA announced today the start of cool pavement work and tree plantings in a South Los Angeles neighborhood of Council District 8 as the Next Phase Urban Cooling Program continues.
Led by StreetsLA, the program is installing cool pavement and planting trees to shade 200 city blocks in eight neighborhoods with this being the fifth one. These neighborhoods were selected using multiple data sets and tools, including the Trust for Public Land Climate Smart cities Tool, the Google Environmental Insights Explorer tree canopy map, and Cal Enviro-Screen.
“This project is an excellent example of innovation and collaboration,” said Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilmember of the Eighth District. “And a tool we can use to provide relief to some of the hottest neighborhoods in the city while we address climate change.”
The Mayor’s L.A Green New Deal Plan, released in 2019, has a goal to reduce urban/rural temperature differential by at least 1.7 degrees by 2025; and 3 degrees by 2035.
“These types of programs are critical as we deal with heat, especially in areas where it’s most prevalent” said Board of Public Works President Pro Tempore Mike Davis. “We thank StreetsLA for this work that, with other sustainability efforts by Public Works, will enable us to continue to tackle climate change head on.”
“This innovative program is a great example of how the City and StreetsLA can reduce the urban heat island effect in Los Angeles, using a holistic approach that integrates new pavement technology, greening that broadens the tree canopy overhead, and more bus shelters and shade structures,” said StreetsLA Executive Director Keith Mozee.
For information on the Next Phase Cooling Program or LA City Department of Public Works visit: http://bpw.lacity.org.
