As the City of Angels prepares for a plethora of major sporting events that will bring an influx of visitors over the next few years, a local initiative is working to improve shade in the region to help.
ShadeLA, which describes itself as a “people-powered movement to make LA cooler” is working with the county, city, LA Metro, LA28 and dozens of community partners to bring more shade around the city. It’s an effort being led by USC Public Exchange and UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.
“Heat is the deadliest weather-related impact in Los Angeles,” said Monica Dean, Director of Climate and Sustainability at USC Public Exchange. “And so, as we prepare for the future, we expect to see more hot days, longer and more frequent heat waves, as well.”
In just the next handful of years, Los Angeles will host the 2026 World Cup, Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. The city has already been making changes to its infrastructure and public transit plans ahead of the events and part of that is providing relief from the heat.
“What’s really important about shade is that it’s one of the least costs, easiest interventions to help keep people safe when they are outside,” Dean said.
The initiative will look at various permanent and temporary structures as needs come up during anticipated outdoor events.
“Sometimes that means taking out some of the concrete from a sidewalk, redoing the soil and planting a tree in that spot,” Dean said.
The power of shade can help some areas feel 10 to 20 degrees cooler on average. That’s an especially helpful feat on days that have excessive heat, which is linked to an estimated 1,500 excess daily emergency room visits, according to the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.