Under a streetlight, next to a building, at the entrance of a store, or even shielding ourselves with our own bags, finding shade in L.A.’s concrete jungle is a real challenge. It becomes even more of a problem during heat waves that can seriously affect our health.
With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, L.A. Times reports that the city is preparing to welcome millions of fans and thousands of athletes who will be navigating the city under the blazing sun. To tackle the problem of high temperatures, ShadeLA was created.
ShadeLA is a coalition of universities, nonprofits, and local agencies, with the initiative to expand cooling infrastructure across the city. Led by USC Dornsife Public Exchange, the project focuses not only on where shade is needed most, but also on how to build it in ways that last.
Unlike previous projects that focused on the number of shade sources, ShadeLA hasn’t set a strict target for how many trees or structures it aims to create. Instead, the focus is on the quality of the shade, using high-resolution mapping tools to measure how much usable, ground-level coverage people actually experience in public spaces where they walk, wait, or gather.
This data helps guide decisions on which projects will have the greatest impact, whether it’s planting a large-canopy tree on a street corner, redesigning a bus stop to add more overhead shade, or setting up a temporary cooling zone in a busy area.
ShadeLA also offers L.A. residents services like up to seven free shade trees delivered to their yard (no permit required) and no-cost home upgrades such as insulation, ventilation, and sun-blocking improvements. They also provide additional ideas and resources that you can explore and manage yourself through their website.