The 51st Street Greenbelt Park project in North Long Beach has secured $2 million in funding to transform from a dirt lot near the Los Angeles River into a green space with trees, fitness equipment and plants that naturally remove pollutants from rainwater runoff.
Why it matters
Congressmember Nanette Barragán, who represents a large part of North Long Beach, helped secure the federal funding. She says half of L.A.’s population lives in neighborhoods without access to parks and open spaces.
“[Low-income and communities of color] have less than 10% of park acreage per resident than, say, more affluent areas in East Long Beach,” she said. Last year, a report from the non-profit Trust for Public Land revealed that communities of color have 43% less park space than white neighborhoods.
About the 51st Street Greenbelt project
The park will have fitness equipment, a play area for kids, a natural walking trail and more. Barragán says it’s important for “these neighborhoods to have green spaces for their kids, for [wellness], and for mental health reasons. She says “It’s good for getting to know your neighbors.”
How parks help with the climate crisis
Barragán noted that parks provide a cooling effect that help combat the urban heat island effect — when pavement, buildings and other surfaces absorb and retain heat.
“Having more tree canopy and shade — it’s going to help reduce air pollution by sequestering carbon and other toxins and improve water quality by removing contaminants from stormwater runoff,” she said. “So this is really a greater effort to [help] these communities combat the climate injustice that they…
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