With funding from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (Cal Fire) Urban and Community Forestry Green Schoolyards Planning Grant Program, CWH led a community-led and nature-based green schoolyard design process at 118th St. Elementary School and seven other Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) school campuses. Located on the border of Willowbrook, 118th St. Elementary School’s proposed green schoolyard project addresses the urgent need for shaded, green spaces that provide students with nature-based play opportunities that support their learning and mental and physical health.
As part of our school community-led design process, CWH partnered with Willowbrook Inclusion Network (WIN), a community-based organization with longstanding trust with the local community of Willowbrook, and Herrera Environmental Consultants, which provided civil engineering and landscape design services. In partnership with LAUSD, CWH’s project team developed a 50 percent conceptual design for 118th St. Elementary School’s green schoolyard project that reflect the needs and priorities WIN identified with the school community.
The proposed green schoolyard design focuses on asphalt removal and the addition of shade trees in student accessible areas of the campus. The design includes multiple outdoor learning areas, native habitat gardens, a micro-forest, and two nature-based play areas.
Project Benefits
.png)
About the Project
CBO Partner
Willowbrook Inclusion Network (WIN) is a non-profit, for-purpose social enterprise dedicated to community planning, civic engagement, workforce development, and economic growth. WIN has extensive experience organizing residents around park equity and active transportation. In January 2024, WIN joined CWH’s ReDesignLA Program as a mentee. Given WIN’s expertise in and personal ties to the Willowbrook community, CWH invited WIN to partner on our Cal Fire Green Schoolyards Planning Grant as the community engagement lead for 118th St. Elementary School (ES). In this role, WIN leads school community education, outreach, and engagement activities at 118th St. ES in support of a school community-led nature-based design process.
As part of WIN’s work at 118th St. ES, WIN is also looking to tackle community-identified active transportation, safe routes to schools, and increased urban tree canopy needs surrounding the school campus and the larger community of Willowbrook. WIN’s existing work in Willowbrook allowed its Executive Director to quickly build trust and relationships with 118th St. ES’ Principal and Vice Principal. Throughout the design process, WIN engaged parents and teachers through existing events like parent coffee with the Principal and weekly teacher and staff meetings, and engaged students through a take-home worksheet and drawing activity.
WIN and Herrera attended a parent coffee with the Principal meeting to introduce the CWH's Cal Fire grant and discuss the importance of school greening. Parents then filled out a survey about what kinds of design elements they'd like to see in their student's schoolyard.
WIN and Herrera attended a parent coffee with the Principal meeting to introduce the CWH's Cal Fire grant and discuss the importance of school greening. Parents then filled out a survey about what kinds of greening elements and nature-based learning opportunities they'd like added to the schoolyard.
WIN and CWH developed take home drawing activities and surveys for students to fill out with their parents.
WIN and Herrera attended a parent coffee with the Principal meeting to introduce the CWH's Cal Fire grant and discuss the importance of school greening. Parents then filled out a survey about what kinds of design elements they'd like to see in their student's schoolyard.
Project Progress
Conceptual Design
During the Spring of 2024, WIN partnered with CWH and Herrera to host a series of community engagement events and gather initial design input from students, teachers, and parents at 118th St. Elementary School (ES). The series included teacher and staff meetings, parent coffee presentations, student assemblies, surveys, and a drawing worksheet activity with students. These events allowed WIN to introduce the school community to school greening and Herrera to design three design alternatives that reflect the school’s needs, priorities, and vision for their green schoolyard. WIN and Herrera presented the three conceptual design alternatives to the 118th St. school community and LAUSD staff to determine which elements of the three designs to prioritize moving forward.
Image Credit: Herrera Environmental Consultants
30% Design
At the 30% design phase, Herrera transformed the initial conceptual design into detailed civil and landscape design documents that incorporated additional school community feedback received on the conceptual design. CWH and SALT also worked with PSOMAS, Pinnacle, and LAUSD staff to identify the location of underground utilities, conduct soil and asphalt testing, and perform other site analyses. During this process, SALT adjusted the schoolyard’s design to reflect what is technically feasible.
Image Credit: Herrera Environmental Consultants
50% Design
From 30% to 50% design, Herrera incorporated CWH and LAUSD’s design feedback and expanded the design to include more technical details. The technical changes include, but are not limited to, demolition plans, civil engineering sheets that assess grading and drainage, irrigation plans, proposed plant palettes, and a drafted construction budget. Herrera also created an updated design exhibit for the school community. In February 2025, WIN and CWH shared project updates and presented the updated design exhibit to teachers and school administrators at their weekly staff meeting and via large posters displayed at the front of the school. CWH and WIN presented the 50% design to 118th St. ES at a Teachers and Staff Meeting to share an update design exhibit and general project updates.
Image Credit: Herrera Environmental Consultants
Project Photos
View of benches and exposed asphalt located in the administrative terrace in the main schoolyard area.
View of exposed asphalt in the administrative terrace of the main schoolyard area.
View of exposed asphalt area outside of science classrooms.
View of benches and exposed asphalt located in the administrative terrace in the main schoolyard area.