UCLA Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Team

UCLA Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) students in Alison Lipman’s EEB 183 Ecological Practicum Class (January 3, 2022 – March 18, 2022) proposed a project entitled “Westwood Neighborhood Greenway: Proving the Multiple Benefits of Preserving Open Space and Landscaping with Native Plants.” The student team – Mercy Eme, Letty Liu, Taylor Morales, Nicole Phelan, and Maya Serota – compiled peer studies covering all aspects of greenways, including how they provide space for city dwellers to partake in recreational movement and increase social cohesion. 

The UCLA students’ Westwood Neighborhood Greenway Cost-Benefit Summary provides a detailed overview of the Westwood Greenway’s impacts on biodiversity, hydrology, and health and wellness, presenting the Greenway as a model for the construction of greenways across Los Angeles County. 

We gratefully share the team’s Executive Summary and Full Report presenting the Westwood Neighborhood Greenway as a model for the future greenways across Los Angeles County.