Boyle Heights III: Design Scenarios

In Boyle Heights, two streets were selected because of their high pedestrian volumes as walking routes to and from elementary schools. A third area was chosen because of the high public transit use at this site. All three streets met four of the equity criteria indicators, demonstrating high need. Several streets in industrial areas met five of the equity criteria indicators but did not have high volumes of pedestrians heading to and from schools or transit. USC Trees visited all potential sites to verify the data on the ground.    

These analyses serve as tools for nonprofits, community agencies, and city planners to strategically select tree-planting locations. This is a part of a long range vision that may take years and significant investment but it is a vision for the future as we deal with the increasing challenges of climate change. 

The following design schemes illustrate strategies to increase tree cover in the neighborhoods with the highest equity need scores while also prioritizing shade on pedestrian routes to and from elementary schools and transit stops. Each concept recognizes the presence of constraints due to overhead utilities and existing parkway infrastructure. Trees vary by size and must be planted in tree wells that provide ample space for their root zones to encourage healthy growth. 

USC Trees assigned potential trees to one of three tiers of investment to classify them by cost and level of effort required for the planting and long-term care of additional street trees. This three-tier design system comes from the City of Los Angeles Urban Forest Equity Collective ( UFEC ). 

The recommendations below provide potential solutions ranging from low-cost tree plantings to more investment intensive strategies that involve structural changes in roadway and transit stop design, or funding and support for trees on private property. All trees are placed intentionally, sustainably, and equitably to benefit residents’ health and well-being.   

Each conceptual design preserves on-street parking as an essential resource in high equity score communities. Residents were adamant about keeping parking across every community engagement event. The proposals below identify opportunities for small, medium, and large trees based on the width of existing parkways and the presence or absence of overhead utilities that may limit the height of tree growth. Where there are multiple constraints or no available space for street trees, we explore alternatives to create space for trees like bump-outs or curb extensions. Private properties also provide some of the best locations for planting large shade trees, especially in required front and rear yard setbacks where those trees can reduce sun exposure and provide shade for buildings. 

The following designs are intended to be examples, but do not represent the optimal or only opportunities to plant trees. The additional trees in the designs illustrate potential tree planting locations. More detailed and in-depth investigation of constraints will be needed as the city and non-profit groups consider these designs for implementation. 

Mariachi Plaza is a historic cultural landmark and community space. It also serves as a public transit hub. The existing trees in this area are primarily palms and low shade quality, small flowering trees. 

The conceptual design proposes larger, higher value shade trees to provide cooler spaces for people waiting for transit connections or making use of the public space. On surrounding streets, including 1st Street and Boyle Avenue, the design proposes creating new parkways and reserving space on privately developed parcels for tree planting, which will provide additional shade for people utilizing the Plaza space. 

Kearney Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Cesar Chavez Avenue is a popular pedestrian route to a number of local schools in the surrounding neighborhood. The residential street has relatively few curb cuts and driveways. It has overhead utilities on the north side while the south side has none. There are few existing trees in the moderate width parkways. 

Kearney Street is densely developed and poses specific design challenges due to the limited parkway space and current regulations for tree planting. The conceptual design proposes planting large shade trees on private property to provide cool oases in existing open spaces or to provide shading for homes which can reduce the energy used by air conditioning systems. Additional street trees can be planted with some design modifications including the expansion of the parkway. Solutions to increase the urban canopy on this street need to be creative due to the lack of tree planting space in the public right-of-way.

Winter Street between Blade Street and Fresno Street is a pedestrian route serving multiple local schools. The residential street has a mix of single- and multi-family units, each with a curb cut and driveway along the street. There are overhead utilities on the north side while the south side has none. There are few trees in the existing moderate width parkways. Many of the rear yards and some of the front yards have been paved to allow for off-street parking. The arrangement of driveways and on-street parking provide areas along the curb that are too small to fit typical size vehicles. 

The conceptual design proposes a consistent planting of medium size, high value shade trees to provide cooling and associated benefits. Most of the trees can be planted in the existing parkways. Although this is a very densely developed area with limited open space there are opportunities for large shade trees on private property, primarily in the required front yard setbacks to provide shading of homes on the south side which can help reduce the energy used by air conditioning systems. Excess or unused space that is too small for parking spaces, or where parking is not allowed, could be used to expand the space for trees in existing parkways to accommodate larger shade trees.  

In addition to public street tree planting in parkways and tree wells, trees on private property are also an important part of reaching the region’s shade cover goals. Due to the lack of public open space and the predominance of private residential developments with required setbacks, USC Trees advises planting trees on private property, especially in front yard setbacks where these trees can shade homes that require air conditioning in extreme heat conditions. For trees on private property, including rentals, municipal assistance is needed to care for the trees, including watering, as these costs can be significant burdens in high need areas. 

The streets of Los Angeles have been altered drastically throughout the decades and will continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of modern society. The goal of the USC Urban Trees Initiative is to help cool the neighborhood of Boyle Heights and improve air quality to ensure the safety and health of local residents in the face of rising temperatures. The designs covered in this StoryMap serve as examples, but do not represent the only opportunities for tree plantings. USC Trees has identified a wider array of streets where there is potential to implement similar designs. Through research and strategic design, we can recommend how the City of Los Angeles and urban forestry practitioners can best increase the urban canopy with benefits that will last for decades to come.   

 _{StoryMap Author: Jillian Gorman}  

 _{Contributors: Dulce Acosta, Marianna Babboni, Will Berelson, Naman Casas, Eileen Chen, Tarana Chordia, Charlie Curtain, Monica Dean, Jackson FitzGerald, David Galaviz, Emma Johnson, Runzi Kang, Jinsol Kim, Carolyn Koh, Joan Lee, Yixuan Li, Beau MacDonald, Esther Margulies, Alyssa Ng, Eliana Ramirez, Melinda Ramos-Alatorre, Coleman Reardon, Nick Rollins, Katie Vega, Steve Wesson, John Wilson, Aviva Wolf-Jacobs}