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The lack of shade in the city of Los Angeles has become a real problem for its residents, who suffer the ravages of rising temperatures every year, especially those who live in low-income areas. Experts are therefore urging the creation of more green areas, especially in schools and public spaces.
According to the most recent Los Angeles County Health Survey, 18 percent of youth do not have easy access to a park, playground or other safe place for recreation, with the most vulnerable communities facing inequality due to lack of green space.
Research has shown that greening schoolyards has a direct impact on children's safety, health and ability to learn, but most schools need more green space or shade, experts said during a briefing by Ethnic Media Services.
Marci Raney, program director for the Office of Wellness at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, former associate professor of kinesiology at Occidental College in Los Angeles and an exercise physiologist and playground safety inspector, said 30 percent tree canopy coverage is recommended to mitigate rising global temperatures.
However, the California Schoolyard Canopy Equity Study released by Green School Yards America shows that 2.6 million students across the state interact daily in schoolyards, so having green spaces available is essential.
He also explained that these environmental conditions have contributed to higher rates of asthma, chronic absenteeism, physical inactivity, heat exhaustion and cognitive challenges.
“It is important that schoolyards become a place to improve life. Removing asphalt and planting trees can effectively counteract aspects of climate change and the urban heat island effect; schoolyards alone have the power to improve the overall health and well-being of everyone,” Raney added.
Rocio Rivas, LAUSD District 2 School Board member and chair of the Los Angeles Unified School Board’s Green Schools and Climate Resilience Committee, explained that this is the first time the district has had a committee focused solely on making schools greener and making the school district more climate resilient.
“It's a holistic effort to transform our schools and make them greener, we are healthier or the students are healthier, smarter, they feel safe, connected in the communities that surround these schools and it also has very profound effects,” Rivas said.
She also explained that a comprehensive plan is being developed to improve energy efficiency in schools, which includes replacing windows and updating systems and facilities. This will not only create a more comfortable learning environment, but will also reduce energy costs and free up resources for the curricular integration of critical needs.
Christos Chrysiliou, director of eco-sustainability for the Los Angeles Unified School District, said that for him the most important thing is to take care of children, because they are the future, so combining both things is the real drive.
He also said that $500 million has been invested in playground projects, in what they call the Community-Based Seed Project. As well as that project, there are different types of projects that are currently being worked on, although there is much more to do and more funding is needed to continue the work.
“Now understanding the crisis, we wanted to make sure we have more accountability and take more action by developing an office that focuses on specific resolutions and looking at how we can be more energy efficient, be able to save our natural resources, clean our schools; we focused on those areas and have developed internal program initiatives and partnerships,” Chrysiliou added.
Tori Kjer is executive director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, a nonprofit formed to address hurricane risks and ensure everyone has equitable access to parks, open space, and greening everywhere.
She explained that in Los Angeles, they have prioritized work in low-income communities of color, planning, designing and building parks, but they also focused on green schoolyards and do advocacy to ensure policies and funding are in place to support this work.
“We have been talking about green schools for 20 years, and I must say that there has been a lot of work since the Coalition started and the district is really showing itself to be an enthusiastic partner, which we deeply appreciate,” Kjer said.
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