This LA school is planting trees to ‘supercharge’ childhood development

Parks, trees and green spaces are critical to kids' health and wellbeing, but in many cities, residents have unequal access

On a recent Saturday morning at Washington Elementary Stem magnet school in Pasadena, California, a group of volunteers and staffers from Amigos de los Rios hauled soil for a new pollinator garden of native plants that support local habitats such as those for butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. They also filled up 37 planter beds that will grow fresh veggies such as carrots and sweet potatoes for students to eat.

Before the local non-profit began this work, the Title I school - which is primarily attended by Latino and Black students from low-income households - had been largely paved, lacked trees and had one wooden playhouse that kids would patiently wait their turn to play inside to take refuge from the sun.