John Muir Middle School

Funding for this project is provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, enabling TreePeople to partner with Burbank School District (BUSD) in the development of shovel-ready greening plans for six schools. This initiative aims to expand and improve green infrastructure on school campuses, addressing environmental burdens and creating healthier outdoor spaces for all students. TreePeople is partnering with landscape architecture firm SWA, who is designing the campus landscape; Burbank Eco Council, who is facilitating community engagement; and Theodore Payne Foundation, who is developing a California native planting palette.

TreePeople’s holistic approach to greening prioritizes the voices most affected by this work: the school community. In collaboration with Burbank Eco-Council, TreePeople facilitated bilingual listening sessions and workshops for parents, students, and faculty to better understand the school community’s vision.

At John Muir Middle School, design plans envision enhancing outdoor spaces for students to gather under a grove of shade trees near the athletic fields. Additional development includes replanting existing tree wells and expanding them to increase shaded areas near the gymnasium, adding much needed habitat and communal locations for students to recreate and relax.