PARKS

Jordan Downs Freedom Tree Park (2019-2024)

The Freedom Tree Park, a 1.25 acre community-designed park in the Jordan Downs Redevelopment in Watts. The park includes over 100 local and drought tolerant plants, an interactive arroyo water feature, and 35 trees. The Freedom Tree Park is named to memorialize a lost community landmark that represents the spirit of Watts resiliency.

Jordan Downs CHILDREN’S Park
(2023)

The Children’s Park, a 0.489 acre park planned in Watts. The park will be stationed in between two housing phases (Jordan Downs S4 & S5) providing its residents recreational opportunities. The park proposes to feature play structures, a basketball court, lawn and open space, and drought tolerant plants.

Jordan Downs CENTURY GATEWAY Park (2022-2023)

The Century Gateway park, a 0.62 acre park in Watts into a community-designed nature-inspired park. The park will include local and drought tolerant plants, a picnic and BBQ area, and the planting of 35 trees. The park is the companion park to the Freedom Tree Park.

ALONDRA GATEWAY PARK
(2019-2021)

The Alondra Gateway Park proposes to convert a 20,528 sq.ft. vacant lot in the City of Compton into a community-designed, equestrian and nature-inspired park.

HUNTINGTON PARK VETERANS Park
(2019)

The Veterans Park in Huntington Park converted a corridor of 10 vacant lots into a linear park with a variety of amenities including fitness areas, nature play areas, and will feature 220 trees and native plants. We led a robust canvassing engagement detail and hosted a final design unveiling.

MOBILITY AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

JORDAN DOWNS MOBILITY & SAFE STREETS PLANNING (2024)

Urbano Strategies, in partnership with The Michaels Organization, led community engagement efforts at Jordan Downs. Through workshops and a community walking audit, residents co-designed a plan for safer streets and improved walkability.

SLATE-Z UNIVERSAL BASIC MOBILITY (2024-2025)

Urbano Strategies, in partnership with SLATE-Z. As Community Ambassadors, we lead community engagement efforts in South LA where South LA residents feel heard, valued, and empowered to shape the future of mobility in South LA.

COMMUNITY GARDENS

Stanford-Avalon Community Garden
(2019 -2024)

The Stanford-Avalon Community Garden isa 7.71 acres site Urbano farm located in Watts bordering the South Central community stretching across 10 city blocks serving over 200 families. The farm holds a significant historical legacy, once represented by the South Central Farm, which had nine distinct owners and a history of eminent domain issues. The City of Los Angeles offered this land as an alternative site.

San pedro Community Garden (2019-2024)

The San Pedro Community Garden that occupies a six-acre parcel of city-owned land in the otherwise highly industrialized area of the blue-collar harbor community of San Pedro. The garden was formally established under Mayor Tom Bradley’s Neighborhood Gardens and Farms program in the early 1970s. The site has 224 family plots that provide multi benefits to multiple generations of Angelenos.

FLORENCE-FIRESTONE COMMUNITY GARDEN
(2019-2024)

The Florence-Firestone Community Garden opened in October 2012. It consists of two parcels of land located underneath power lines which are leased from Southern California Edison. The garden is in the residential part of Florence-Firestone on Pace Ave, one lot on 96th st. a second parcel on 98th st. supporting 100 local families.

WILMINGTON COMMUNITY GARDEN (2022-2024)

The Wilmington Community Garden features 38 garden plots, a communal tool shed, and a shared picnic area. We host public meetings, community-driven beautification projects, and organize elections.

LENNOX COMMUNITY GARDEN (2019-2024)

The Lennox Community Garden features 23 garden plots, a communal tool shed, a communal composting area, a shared picnic area, a green wall of “bougainvilleas.” The site is encircled with 8 trees along the parkway in front of the garden.

NEW BEGINNINGS COMMUNITY GARDEN (2019-2022)

The New Beginnings Community Garden is located in Watts. The community garden is approximately 6500 sq. ft. that used to be a dumping ground after a home that burned down many years ago. The community garden features a community gathering area, a garden tool shed, a community mural along the wall and has 26 raised beds.

COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING

HEAL THE BAY: SAFE CLEAN WATER PROGRAM (2020-2025)

Urbano strategies, in collaboration with Heal the Bay lead community engagement for the Safe Clean Water Program in the South and Central Santa Monica Bay Watershed areas. The Safe Clean Water Program provides local, dedicated funding for stormwater and urban runoff project and scientific studies to increase our local water supply, improve water quality, and protect public health.

Carreón Group: Groundswell for water justice (2023-2024)

Urbano Strategies, in collaboration with Carreón Group, organized a community-powered initiative empowering our communities to advocate for water justice in California. We mobilized a diverse coalition of organizers, community leaders, and stakeholders to Sacramento during the 2024 open legislative session.

CULTURAL ARTS

JORDAN DOWNS COMMUNITY MURALS (2024)

Urbano Strategies, in collaboration with The Michaels Organization and East Side of the River led the creation of two community murals in the Jordan Downs Neighborhood in Watts.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

FREEDOM FARMS: CRENSHAW COMMUNITY GARDEN (2024-2025)

The Crenshaw Community Garden is undergoing a transformation with support from the Freedom Farms Program, in partnership with LACGC and Partnership for Growth LA. We lead the Improvement project organizing a series of community-designed sessions and installation to modernize the garden.

LADWP CD15 WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY (2024-2025)

Urbano Strategies, in collaboration with LACGC and with the support of the LADWP, spearheaded a community engagement and outreach project aimed at promoting water conservation and energy sustainability in the CD15 community of Los Angeles. We constructed a sustainable yard that features smart irrigation systems, including inline drip irrigation circuits and local drought tolerant plants.

LADWP CITY-WIDE WATER CONSERVATION (2024-2025)

Empower to Conserve, Educate to Sustain Program transforms traditional workshops into dynamic, interactive learning experiences designed to make water conservation education engaging, accessible, and impactful for Angelenos. We organized block parties, sidewalk engagements, and neighborhood canvassing engagements.