Esperanza Elementary School Greening
(Re)Open Date
Spring 2026
Location
680 Little St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Size
1.26 acres
On April 14, 2021, the Neighborhood Land Trust was awarded an urban greening grant from the California Natural Resources Agency for just under $1.5 million to reimagine the campus of Esperanza Elementary School. Located in the densely populated neighborhood of Westlake/ MacArthur Park, the campus, like many in LA, is mostly asphalt. Designs will include outdoor classrooms, expansion of a current native habitat built in 2017 as well as storm water capture and lots of native and shade producing plantings.
About the Esperanza Green Schoolyard Project
As 55,000 SF of green schoolyard is built, 30,000 SF of asphalt will be removed. In place of this asphalt will be 20,000 SF of California Native planting and 35 California Native shade trees. To keep these green spaces thriving, the project includes a high-efficiency irrigation system.
The students will also have expanded and improved areas to run, play, and learn. These amenities include a new running track, a 12,800 SF flexible lawn for multi-use play and stormwater infiltration swales, two outdoor classrooms with nature-based play structures, and 11,700 SF of solar reflective asphalt coating.
This project broke ground early in the Summer of 2025 and anticipates completion in the Spring of 2026. LANLT will be working with community-based organizations such as Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) and Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC) to provide the community with project updates and engage in artful interactive activities, including a tree giveaway, closer to substantial completion of the project.
