In August, ActiveSGV completed several projects and connected with the community through bike rides, crop swaps, schoolyard transformations, and carshare workshops. Even with the rising heat, we found ways to keep cool and stay engaged with one another.
Merced Avenue Greenway Project Completion
On Saturday, August 16, our Easy Access crew set out from the Jeff Seymour Family Center to explore the new Merced Avenue. Together we rolled through Heroes Park in El Monte, rode down the Merced Avenue Greenway in South El Monte, visited Legg Lake in Whittier Narrows, and returned to the Family Center to complete our ride.
August also wrapped up with a hands-on beautification event along Merced Avenue. Community members gathered to help clean and improve the corridor, working together to make the street more vibrant and welcoming. The Merced Avenue Greenway Project continues to show how street design can address rising temperatures, improve safety for people walking and biking, and enhance local water quality. Events like these highlight the power of community action to create greener, healthier, and more connected neighborhoods.
This month also marked the close of the project. ActiveSey and partners released the final reports for the Merced Avenue Greenway, documenting the transformation of one of South El Monte’s busiest corridors into a safe, green, and resilient community space. Click here to learn more about the final reports and the project’s impact.
Food Access and Equity
Our LA Food Equity team had a full month of activities. On August 10, we joined Lopez Urban Farm’s gardening class with a recipe demonstration on how to turn garden seeds into chewy and nutritious energy bites. Later in the month, we hosted two crop swaps, which invite community members to bring what they grow at home and trade with each other.
The first crop swap was held in Pomona with Realize the Dream and Lopez Urban Farm, where a Girl Scout troop volunteered to help distribute fresh produce. The second took place at La Madera Community Garden in El Monte, where participants shared what they grew and enjoyed sandwiches catered by People’s Cafe LA.
Green Wheels, Green Spaces
The Climate Team continued promoting clean air and sustainable transportation throughout August. For SGV CarShare, we hosted our first community workshop at The Exchange, an affordable housing complex in El Monte. Residents learned about the program and took ride-alongs in one of the electric vehicles. For BAAEC CarShare, we connected with residents at the South El Monte Night Market and Back to School Nights. The program has recently been updated to welcome all SGV residents and lower the weekly cost to $25, making it more accessible for households interested in switching to electric vehicles.
At the same time, the Living Schoolyards initiative is moving forward in the El Monte City School District. Funded by a CalFire Green Schoolyards grant, construction is underway at Cortada, Gidley, and Shirpser schools. Our team attended Back to School Nights to share updates with families as campuses transform into shaded, engaging, and healthy outdoor learning spaces.
As summer winds down, we look forward to carrying this momentum into September. To keep up with future events and updates, be sure to sign up for our newsletter.
