South El Monte, CA – Active San Gabriel Valley (ActiveSGV) and partners have 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.
Reports are available to view here:
The Merced Avenue Greenway spans 1.1 miles and was developed in two phases. Phase 1 (South End), stretching from Rush Street to Lerma Street North, was completed in late 2024 and celebrated with a grand opening in March 2025. Phase 2 (North End), from Rush Street to Fern Street, is currently advancing toward construction following extensive design and outreach efforts in 2025.
Once dominated by industry and traffic, Merced Avenue now features the San Gabriel Valley’s first sidewalk-level bike path, wider pedestrian walkways, and drought-tolerant landscaping that cools the neighborhood and manages millions of gallons of stormwater each year. These improvements address flooding, heat, and air quality challenges, while providing residents with safer and more enjoyable options for walking, biking, and connecting with their community.
The final reports highlight the vital role community input played in the project’s success. Through more than 65 outreach activities—including workshops, bike rides, presentations, and beautification events—over 12,000 residents influenced the design and helped shape the future of their neighborhood.
“It’s been a pleasure working alongside ActiveSGV, Climate Resolve, and the City as the community’s vision for a greener and safer street is one step closer to being fully realized,” said Debbie Enos, Senior Project Manager at Council for Watershed Health. “It was so much fun to ride an ebike along the elevated bike way at the opening ceremony for the recently completed southern section and to see so many enjoying the return of nature to the neighborhood. On behalf of the Council for Watershed Health, our team looks forward to seeing the seeds of stewardship planted by this work grow stronger and blossom into more greenways, such as Merced Avenue. “
"As a proud member of this community, I am deeply honored to have played a role in the Merced Avenue Greenway Project," said David Diaz, Executive Director of Active San Gabriel Valley. "Seeing the positive change and the enthusiasm of residents for a safer, greener, and more connected South El Monte is incredibly inspiring. This project is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all."
"Working with the South El Monte community has been an honor! Engaging the community and incorporating their design ideas and elevating their concerns during the conception stage of this project has been key to its success," said Thelma Briseño, Senior Director of Energy and Water Programs at Climate Resolve. "It has been amazing to see all of those efforts come to fruition with beautiful urban trees, a bike path, and cleaning local stormwater flows to boot."
About Active San Gabriel Valley (ActiveSGV)
ActiveSGV is a community-based organization dedicated to advancing a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. Its programs include GoSGV e-bike share, free fitness and nutrition classes, safe streets advocacy, and greenway projects. ActiveSGV’s work is guided by a commitment to culturally sensitive programming, youth and young adult leadership development, and volunteer pathways into careers in sustainability, public health, and environmental justice. To learn more, please visit activeSGV.org.
