On February 1st, we kicked off our first tree planting event under the CAL FIRE implementation grant, and what a day it was! Hosted at Sparks Middle School in the Hacienda La Puente School District, the event was a huge success, bringing together 29 volunteers from the local community to help make the campus a greener, shadier, and more vibrant space.
A Head Start Over Winter Break
Before we got our hands in the soil, our construction partners at SLA got things rolling over winter break. They installed a brand-new irrigation system to ensure the trees would have the best possible start. With this crucial groundwork in place, we were ready to plant!
Thirty Trees and a Whole Lot of Teamwork
Under the bright Saturday sun, volunteers came together to plant 32 beautiful, 15-gallon trees, including 6 Tipu Trees (Tipuana tipu), 8 Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia), 9 Brisbane Boxes (Lophostemon confertus), and 9 Australian Willows (Geijera parviflora). The energy was high, the teamwork was inspiring, and the results were immediate—freshly planted trees now line the campus, promising future shade and improved student connection to the nature around them.
This event wasn’t just about planting trees; it was about building community. Volunteers of all ages dug in (literally!) and got their hands dirty for a good cause. Many volunteers dedicated and named the newly planted trees after family and community members who attended Sparks Middle School or made a significant impact. We are so grateful to everyone who came out, from dedicated parents to school faculty such as Sparks Middle School Principal, Dr. David Nieto. He fully supported this school greening project and brought his family to plant and dedicated trees.
Round Two Coming Soon!
The work isn’t over yet! This project will officially wrap up on February 22nd when we will plant the remaining 23 trees that are part of the in-house design from our own Landscape Design Coordinator, Edward Saloj. If you missed the first event, this is your chance to be part of something special! Sign up today.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Hacienda-La Puente School District, and our hardworking San Gabriel Valley team, members from the Southeast LA and South LA teams, Climate Action Corp, and College Corp. Their commitment to creating greener school campuses is truly making a difference.
🌿 For more about our school greening projects, see our School Greening page.