Green Together Collaborative launching projects in Pacoima

LOS ANGELES, CA – For the Green Together Collaborative in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, the month of May sets the stage for the collaborative to introduce six notable projects breaking ground within the Pacoima- Sun Valley area. In the spring of 2020 GTC was awarded a $23m grant from the California Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program. The GTC is the first and only community based lead TCC grant recipient in the state and has been ramping up to implement projects and, in some cases, has initiated projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the local economy and improve public health.

The Green Together Collaborative is a partnership between several community based organizations and who are working with government agencies with funded projects in Pacoima-Sun Valley, including Community Partners, Pacoima Beautiful, Grid Alternatives Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles Business Council, The Trust for Public Land, LA DOT, LA Conservation Corps, and the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.  The Collaborative’s vision is to help build a community that is safe, green, socially inclusive and resilient to climate change.

Since being awarded the grant, the Green Together Collaborative has engaged residents inviting them to participate in Energy for All, a solar panel installation program offered to single-family homes and multi-family residential properties. Longtime Sun Valley Resident, Maria Madrigal is a participant of the program Energy for All, she installed solar panels on her roof and is the first of many residents to use solar energy technology.

In addition, 514 of 2,000 new street trees on commercial and residential city parkways have been planted and will be maintained for the first three years, reducing the heat island effect in our community by expanding the tree canopy in the project area. Residents can also look forward to riding a DASH bus route equipped with battery-electric buses in the near future.

The Green Together Collaborative innovations will futher strengthen the green infrastructure changes happening in Pacoima. Bradley Green Alley, located in the alley southwest and parallel to Van Nuys Boulevard, between Lehigh and Pala Avenues in Pacoima, a neighborhood within Council District 7 of the City of Los Angeles. The completed project will have a range of benefits including: improvement of water quality by capturing and infiltrating stormwater runoff, eliminating alley flooding, and promoting sustainability and neighborhood connectivity by creation of a vibrant open space for community members to gather. Projects such as Bradley Alley present a model that the Green Together Collabrotive flect the type of strategies needed to effectively impact green house emission in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. 

Additional projects include renovating David M. Gonzales Park to incorporate cooling elements and stormwater management. Additionally, 2.4 miles of pedestrian improvements along Herrick Avenue and Haddon Street will connect neighborhoods, making biking and walking easier. There will also be four new mobility hubs which will include charging stations, space for bike parking, and air-quality monitoring stations, to make it easier for community members to travel to and use public transit. As Los Angeles moves into a public safety tier outlined in Governor Newsom’s reopening plan, The Green Together Collaborative will be hosting an Open House event Saturday May 22, 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Pacoima City Hall.

“Now, more than ever, we know how invaluable quality outdoor green spaces are for safe and healthy communities,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, California State Director for The Trust for Public Land, “As the climate crisis deepens, with world record heat recordings and poor air quality these community lead natural climate resiliency efforts will make the Northeast San Fernando cooler, more resilient, and healthier for generations to come. We're proud to work with this broad coalition to reach these collective goals."

The Collaborative is passionate about this community-led effort and will incorporate community engagement throughout the projects, encouraging resident and stakeholder participation during design phases and offering charettes on major projects to keep the community informed. To address potential concerns of displacement, the Green Together Collaborative plans to provide short- and long-term resources to small businesses and residents, such as tenants’ rights workshops and small business development workshops.  

These greening and air quality projects will not only transform the Pacoima-Sun Valley from an area of environmental neglect, to one with substantial employment opportunities, and workforce training programs for longtime residents.

“This was a big win for the community and we're excited to get started. Our members and residents advocated for these improvements because they experience the effects of climate change and environmental pollution firsthand. This grant will provide much needed improvements and resources that will make Pacoima-Sun Valley greener, safer and more beautiful,” said Veronica Padilla, Executive Director at Pacoima Beautiful. “We are looking forward to helping deliver this vision.”  

“Today’s Green Together launch marks such an exciting milestone for Pacoima/Sun Valley residents on the path to realizing their vision for a healthy, thriving, resilient community,” said Jessica Buendia, Acting Deputy Director of the California Strategic Growth Council. “It’s also a testament to this community’s decades of deep community organizing and engagement, which created the foundation for this Transformative Climate Communities project. Congratulations to Pacoima Beautiful and all the Green Together partners!”

Projects have launched and will be completed in stages through Spring 2026. Please visit our website to sign up to receive updates about the Green Together Collaborative.

Associated Program: Green Together Collaborative