Los Angeles has more than 900 miles of alleyways, covering twice the area of New York’s Central Park. Alleyways, especially in lower income neighborhoods, have gained a reputation as a magnet for dumping and crime. But in a dense city where more than half the population lacks easy access to green space, they also represent an opportunity adding valuable greenery, walkability, and affordable housing to neighborhoods.

Highlighted Project:

The Trust for Public Land’s Avalon Green Alley demonstration project repurposed nearly a mile of neglected alleyways in South Los Angeles into a walkable, bikeable, beautiful public resource. To initiate the project, Trust for Public Land, a national community parks nonprofit advocate, partnered with the City of Los Angeles’ Community Redevelopment Agency, Bureau of Sanitation, the University of Southern California‘s Center for Sustainable Cities, Jefferson High School and others, to re-purposing several neighborhood alleys into vibrant, outdoor areas. The demonstration project was completed in 2015 with great fanfare – read the report here.

Turning alleyways into walkable streets opens up an entirely new frontier of new backyard housing possibilities, helping organically revitalize neighborhoods from within. Learn more about TPL’s green alleyway efforts here.

Google Map View: Evolution of Alleyways

Recommended Reading:

Transforming Alleys into Green Infrastructure for Los Angeles