Cedarlane Academy

Funding for this project is provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, which enables TreePeople to partner with Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (HLPUSD) in the design and implementation of two school greening projects. This project will bring shade, clean air, and opportunities for environmental education, resulting in cooler campuses that improve the physical and mental well-being of school communities.

TreePeople’s holistic approach to greening prioritizes the voices most affected by this work: the school community. TreePeople facilitated bilingual listening sessions and workshops for parents, students, and faculty to better understand what the school community envisioned.

This school greening project also includes environmental education, providing lessons and activities emphasizing hands-on learning, outdoor activities, and real-world applications. While each school is being designed and “greened,” students, teachers, and parents will learn the importance and benefits of having a green school and how to steward it.

The project at Cedarlane Academy plans to remove 10,000 square feet of asphalt and replace it with permeable surfaces, while planting 750 native plants and more than 80 trees. Additionally, the designs focus on the creation of two central outdoor learning and gathering spaces.