Natural Park

Air Pollution

Solution

At the Ramona Gardens Housing Development

Improved Air Quality

Natural Open Space

250 Native Trees & 15,000 Plants

Recycle Stormwater

Multi-Use Plaza

Anti-Pollution Green Buffer, Arroyo & Walking Trail

Community-Driven

Design

Combining ecosystem science, engineering, and community priorities…

The Natural Park will create an Anti-Pollution Green Buffer ‘Nature in the City’ between Ramona Gardens residences and a 15-lane freeway in North Boyle Heights.

Downloads & Resources:

Schematic Design Plans

Led By: Legacy LA & Resident Leaders

The Why:

Air Pollutants From Freeways Cause Serious Health Problems:

Impaired lung development in children
Asthma
Cardiovascular disease
Early Death

Top 1% Most Polluted Communities in California

Infographic showing wind blowing pollutants into Ramona Gardens with 218,000 cars daily contributing to air pollution, highlighting the top 1% most polluted communities in California.

Traffic is 56% Above Federal Health Thresholds

Multiple lanes of traffic on a highway near the Ramona Gardens housing development in Los Angeles, with a yellow school bus visible in the foreground. A sign indicates the I-10 Freeway and a label points to the housing development site.

218,000 Average Cars Per Day

15 Lanes of Freeway Next to Residences

Unhealthy

Air Quality

40%

of the year

Our Solution:

Natural

Park

A Living Partnership

A diagram showing the relationship between healthy soil, plant communities, and the forest canopy. The diagram highlights year-round layered leaf canopies, native plant communities, living organisms in soil, and extensive deep roots.

Native Plant Communities Uptake Air Pollutants,

Store Carbon, and Reduce Greenhouse Gases

280 metric tons of carbon in 20 years
Natural shade and cooling
Wall blocks air pollutants & noise
Earth hills lift trees capturing more air pollutants
Year-round leaf canopies

A colorful park with a walking path, benches, exercise equipment, tall trees, and people enjoying the outdoor space, with a mural on the back wall that says 'Monna Gardens.'

Anti-Polution Buffer

Illustration of an anti-pollution green buffer with trees and plants absorbing air pollutants and toxins, reducing noise, and integrating natural ecosystems like earth berms, large leaf canopies, and root systems.

Combines Ecosystem Science,

Engineering & Community Priorities

Uptakes air pollutants from freeways
Provides natural places to walk and play
Captures and cleans urban runoff
Improves water quality in L.A. River
Multi-use Plaza for community events
Walking trail for all ages

A bustling outdoor market with vendors under blue and pink tents, shoppers browsing, a woman with a stroller, people sitting and chatting in a park area with lush trees, flowers, and butterflies.

A digital rendering of a community park with trees, walking paths, benches, and outdoor exercise equipment, featuring people using the amenities and walking. The park is labeled 'Monet Gardens' in the background. Inset shows a black-and-white historical photo labeled 'Today' comparing the current park to its past appearance.

Diagram of a natural park cross-section showing transportation, trees, and underground water filtration system, with labels including 'Anti-Pollution Green Buffer' and 'Underground Stormwater & Urban Runoff Cleaning and Filtration Elements.'

Green Buffer Cleans Air & Improves Health

The Natural Park is in the Northern Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, on four acres of undeveloped land between 500 residences (home to 1800 people), a 15-lane freeway, and a transit corridor. The site includes two large storm drains.