Sustainability Plan Explorer
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Improve Our Quality of Life

Green Space

Expanding Green Spaces

Alhambra’s available open space, parks and recreation, and urban greening are essential to a diverse and sustainable landscape, that provides benefit to the natural and urban environment, to public health, and for fostering social connectivity and placemaking. Ensuring equitable access to parks and open spaces is crucial for creating healthier, happier, and more connected communities.

Green Space Goal (GS): Creating more parks, tree canopy coverage, and green infrastructure that provides shade, improves air quality, and offers places for recreation and community gathering.

Key Achievements

  • The City requires landscaping for new developments and for rehabilitated landscaping projects to be drought tolerant, filter and retain runoff, support flood management and groundwater recharge.
  • The City of Alhambra has adopted a Tree Preservation Ordinance that requires a 2:1 replacement of trees in certain instances of removal.
  • The City is also engaged in the Green Street Demonstration project along the median (Main Street between South Fremont Avenue and Hampden Terrace), which is adding bioswales for stormwater capture, as well as planting of trees to expand the urban tree canopy.

Community Spotlight: Almansor Park — From Landfill to Community Jewel

In the 1950s, Almansor Park transformed from a former landfill into Alhambra’s largest green space, a vibrant 22-acre recreational hub serving multiple neighborhoods. Today, this environmental success story features innovative stormwater management, habitat restoration, a lake, jogging courses, and sports facilities that bring generations of families together. The park exemplifies how environmental challenges can become opportunities for community building and sustainable recreation.

Goals

  • GS-S1 Increase tree canopy citywide.

    Target GS-T1

    Increase urban tree canopy by 5% of baseline or 1,266 trees by 2030 and 20% of baseline or 5,064 trees by 2045, in line with LA County target.

    Baseline GS-B1

    Baseline of 14%, or 25,319 trees (TreePeople & LMU canopy viewer source).

    Actions

    • GS-1a Develop a comprehensive Urban Forestry Management Program including tree canopy assessment, GIS inventory documentation, maintenance guidelines, and identification of priority planting areas.

    • GS-1b Increase planting of native, drought-tolerant, low-maintenance tree species with low fire risk.

    • GS-1c Explore micro forest locations, especially in disadvantaged areas and priority park zone.

    • GS-1d Establish a Street Tree Planting Program allowing residents to request trees in the public right-of-way.

    • GS-1e Expand tree canopy in existing parks and along active transportation corridor.

    • GS-1f Explore incentive programs (e.g., rebates, education) for commercial, residential, school site, and nonprofit planting.

    • GS-1g Increase education for City staff and property owners on tree planting and care.

    • GS-1h Encourage removal of hardscape and replacement with trees and green space.

    • GS-1i Continue to achieve national recognition through Tree City USA program

  • GS-S2 Increase park acreage, access, and utilization.

    Target GS-T2

    Increase number of parks/green spaces to give 70% of all residents' access to a park within 10 minutes or a ½-mile walk by 2030, 85% by 2045; shade/amenities in 30% of parks by 2030, 100% by 2045; and micro forest pilot by 2030.

    Baseline GS-B2

    Baseline of 64% of all residents per Trust for Public Land.

    Actions

    • GS-2a Identify underutilized lots, brownfields, vacant spaces, and existing park expansion opportunities (such as Emery Park) for park and open space development.

    • GS-2b Prioritize park development in disadvantaged communities and areas with low access.

    • GS-2c Add cooling amenities including shade trees, structures, water features, and recreational activities in heat-prone areas, with a focus on youth and seniors.

    • GS-2d Develop partnerships to transform underutilized spaces into green areas, including converting Moor Field to a public park and collaborating with schools to transform blacktops through joint-use agreements.

    • GS-2e Add amenities like playgrounds, walking paths, seating, dog facilities, and recreation spaces.

  • GS-S3 Promote drought-tolerant and native species.

    Target GS-T3

    Ensure drought-tolerant and native species in all new plantings/replacements on city facilities.

    Baseline GS-B3

    N/A

    Actions

    • GS-3a Educate residents and businesses on native plant benefits and biodiversity; provide resources like seed giveaways.

    • GS-3b Strengthen landscaping standards in city code (e.g., ban artificial turf, require drought-tolerant species).

    • GS-3c Amend Tree Preservation Ordinance to restrict non-native species like palm trees.

    • GS-3d Install demonstration gardens on City facilities to promote native, drought-tolerant species.

    • GS-3e Explore incentives for pollinator gardens, green roofs and vertical gardens for private and commercial property.

Source

Sustainable Alhambra (Public Draft, March 2026), Chapter 3, pp. 3-3 to 3-7

Open the full Sustainability Plan Draft (PDF) →

Last updated 2026-04-22

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