Ramona Gardens Anti-Pollution Green Buffer

Ramona Gardens is in the top 1% of the most polluted communities in California. Residents suffer disproportionately high levels of respiratory diseases, with children suffering from asthma at twice the state average.

The reason is just 150 feet away. The neighborhood, one of the most underserved in L.A., is located next to a 15-lane transport corridor, including one of the USA’s busiest freeways (1-10), and residents are subjected to the fumes and noise of around 218,000 cars and trucks every day.

Working in partnership with the community and client, Legacy LA, WSP showed we could reduce air pollution impacts to the community by transforming a four-acre strip of under-utilized land between the neighborhood and freeway into a living, anti-pollution buffer - a green ‘Natural Park’.

We demonstrated how properly planning the physical, nature-based, and biodiversity elements could protect and enhance the health of Ramona Gardens’ 1,800 residents. Our research prioritized air quality benefits in planning an attractive, enjoyable space for children to play, and for people to meet, exercise or relax.

Location

Los Angeles, California, USA

Client

Legacy LA

Project Status

Ongoing

Our community and youth-led efforts to address environmental justice were strengthened by partnering with WSP because it provided the community with the data and analysis needed to advance efforts to develop an innovative solution to address pollution and improve overall public health

Lou Calanche Executive Director, Legacy LA

Understanding the site

Our team studied local ambient air quality data, meteorological conditions, the urban heat island effect, near road air quality, and published data on California’s environmental health, socioeconomics, and air toxics. We investigated mitigations ranging from traditional noise barriers and earthen berms, to various vegetative solutions, and advanced photocatalytic-hydrophilic and titanium dioxide barriers to actively remove pollution.

Communicating complex data

One challenge was to help the client and community interpret the air quality data so that they could use it to explain the problem to their partners/potential fund providers. Working with WSP’s graphic designers, we communicated the results in an accessible way to a non-technical audience. One of our key findings was that local air quality was poor for 40% of the year for both children and seniors - far above government standards.

Building on our technical findings, we helped empower the residents of Ramona Gardens to advocate for their community by arming them with science-based research and compelling communications assets

Tim Kidman Practice Leader, Sustainability, Energy and Climate Change, WSP in the USA

Planning an anti-pollution green buffer

Using air quality data gathered, we reviewed the original planting scheme to consider the prevailing westerly wind (the direction from which pollution particulates were being blown) and optimize the plants’ function as an anti-pollution barrier.

We suggested using native plants that would thrive in the local environment and specified trees and shrubs be planted on raised ground, further elevating their height to create a ‘green wall’.

We also specified a 15-ft high sound barrier to abate traffic noise. In total, the revised plan incorporates over 250 trees and tree-sized shrubs, as well as 15,000 smaller plants.

By gathering and analyzing a vast quantity of local air quality data, we detailed how a biodiverse park would serve to ‘clean’ the air of pollutants and directly improve health outcomes for people living in Ramona Gardens

Edward Tadross Director - Environmental Planner, WSP in the USA

A pathway to environmental justice

WSP has helped provide Legacy LA and the Ramona Gardens residents with a compelling case for a Natural Park, as the project prepares to apply for public funding. We shared our findings directly with the community, engaging students and leaders to arm them with the data and resources to effectively communicate with policymakers and other key stakeholders.

The data is helping to strengthen the community’s demand for environmental justice. By working with the community to provide a plan for a healthy space, we have provided a solution for easing the community’s public health challenges.