Concrete and Mulch: Industrial Downtown gets the Green Treatment

Skid Row and its surrounding communities often are labeled with associations of sprawling concrete and warehouses, rampant homelessness, drug use and destitution. Though green spaces and trees aren’t a big part of the landscape (yet), this neighborhood is a vibrant corner of the city that offers a place to begin again to its residents who often have nowhere else to go. There is a thriving art scene, colorful community and a palpable sense of altruism here that often goes uncelebrated by the mainstream.

UCLA students care for trees in LA's Industrial District
UCLA students joined TreePeople and Industrial District Green for a tree care event in Downtown Los Angeles

To support the area’s continual evolution, last Sunday TreePeople partnered with Industrial District Green to care for shrubby yew pines planted in 2009 by local residents along Alameda Street.

The December 6th event galvanized Angelenos who may never have the chance to meet, never mind work together to green a community of LA that needs it most—Skid Row’s backyard. UCLA Environmental studies students, repeat volunteers, first-timers and Skid Row residents worked side-by-side after a short demonstration to learn how to clean and mulch the tree wells. Armed with this knowledge, the group seized the day to re-stake, water, weed and mulch the 5-year-old trees.

Coach Ron cares for trees in LA's downtown
Skid Row resident and local activist, Coach Ron, cares for trees in LA’s Industrial District.

“I was brought out here by a love for my neighborhood—for Downtown Los Angeles in general—and for Skid Row in particular,” Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Councilmember and Skid Row resident Eric Dean said.

Eric Dean, Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Councilmember
Downtown Los Angeles Councilmember and Skid Row resident, Eric Dean (left) joined TreePeople and Industrial District Green for tree care event.

It was a truly beautiful experience to see of the power of trees uniting people of all ages and backgrounds to heal our cities hand-in-hand. Poverty and privilege dissolved as the volunteers worked in harmony to care for the few trees dotting the street. Trash littered the sidewalk and traffic roared past, but the moving display of cooperation and oneness owned the day.

“Trees and physical atmosphere are a big part of how people feel about themselves, the hopes they have and the area they live in—for their future. It’s difficult in urban environments to create a green space and that kind of atmosphere,” Dean said.

Downtown Los Angles Neoghborhood Councilmember and Skid Row resident, Eric Dean (right) workking with UCLA students to care for trees on Alameda Street in Downtown Los Angeles.
Downtown Los Angles Neighborhood Councilmember and Skid Row resident, Eric Dean (right) working with UCLA students to care for trees on Alameda Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

“People find concrete urban environments to be depressing and saddening. You can find a balance between the harshness of the hard edges of concrete, steel, and glass and the softness of green, of trees, of grassy areas and plantings. Trying to create more of that balance in Downtown Los Angeles is worthwhile and I hope we can get more people involved,” he shared.

Kristina Nañez and daughter Ryann Riddle care for trees with TreePeople
Kristina Nañez and daughter Ryann Riddle at TreePeople’s tree care event on Alameda Street in Downtown Los Angeles

Though local businesses gave initial permission for the planting, there is “no ongoing care for these trees,” TreePeople’s Regional Manager Pamela Gibson said. Due to the area’s heavily developed concrete landscape it has proven difficult for the trees to flourish without outside help. So Gibson rolled up early in the morning to provide tools and water and led the event alongside Industrial District Green’s Gabrielle Newmark.

Group of volunteers re-staking a Shrubby Yew on Alemeda Street
Group of volunteers re-staking a Shrubby Yew Pine on Alameda Street

Our relationship with Industrial District Green dates back to when Newmark, a longtime TreePeople volunteer, won TreePeople’s Good Maker Green City Challenge. Her win earned her a grant from TreePeople, so we fulfilled her vision for a greener Downtown by planting 27 shade trees and 238 field sage plants with the help of over 100 volunteers. Since then, Newmark went on to found Industrial District Green with TreePeople Citizen Forester Katherine McNenny to bring more trees and nature to Skid Row and work with residents and volunteers to transform the landscape.

Volunteers work together to green Downtown Los Angeles at December 6th event off Alameda Street.
Volunteers work together to green Downtown Los Angeles at December 6th event off Alameda Street.

Looking down Alameda Street on this sunny Saturday, it was clear this transformation is well underway. We’re grateful for the chance to work with such diverse groups and collaborate with other organizations in this space—we all look forward to more opportunities to inspire and create change in the future!

Young girls playing at tree care event on Alameda Street in LA's Downtown
Young girls playing at tree care event on Alameda Street in LA’s Downtown

If you missed this event, make sure to join us at one of our other volunteer events by checking our calendar, and following us on Twitter and Facebook!

 

 

 

By Jessica Jewell

Jessica is TreePeople’s Director of Marketing and Communications. A native Southern Californian, you can find her wandering local trails, hanging out with her sidekick, Penny the Rescue Puppy, on her yoga mat, reading some Phillip K. Dick, or in her kitchen cooking up vegan confections.

Jessica's professional background goes back to her time working at PETA where she worked on celebrity campaigns, and a stint in the entertainment industry, where she worked at Technicolor on their Global Marketing Team.