Environmental Defense Announces Formation Of New Neighborhood Oasis Land Trust

(20 February 2003—Los Angeles)  Environmental Defense today announced the incorporation of Los Angeles’ first urban land trust, the new Neighborhood Oasis Land Trust (NLT).  The Trust has been formed to help solve the problem of a scarcity of parks in Los Angeles by creating a network of neighborhood open spaces throughout the city.  A reception for the new board will be held this evening.

“Los Angeles’ low-income residents have some of the least access to open space of any urban resident in California,” said Luis Flores de Luna, policy analyst at Environmental Defense.  “The urban land trust will bring communities together around new investments in neighborhood parks in the urban core.”

The nonprofit NLT will raise public and private funds to invest in small neighborhood open spaces such as parks, community gardens and playgrounds.  It will partner with community groups to help guide the design and maintenance of the new parks. 

“By seeking out community participation and cooperation at every step of the process,” said Flores, “the NLT creates a new and vibrant model for public and private cooperation in Los Angeles.”

“The new board members will carry forward a critically important mission - bringing new parks and green spaces to Los Angeles’ most underserved neighborhoods,” said Flores.  “We applaud the Mayor, the members of the City Council, the Verde Coalition and the many community groups who worked together to make this day possible.  We are proud that the NLT will be led by such a talented, diverse and dedicated board.” 

Board members include:
 -Donna Andrews, President of the Lee Andrews Group, Inc. (LA Group)
 -Jack Baylis, Vice President and Corporate Officer of CH2M Hill
 -Jason Elias, Field Representative of Service Employees International Union Local 347
 -Ken Gregorio, Senior Program Officer of the California Community Foundation
 -Roberto Lara, Partner and Co-founder of Davis & Lara LLP
 -Mee Lee, Partner of Garcia, McCoy & Lee Consulting Group
 -David Marquez, Executive Director of Central City Neighborhood Partners
 -Richard Mayer, Partner of Troller ? Mayer Associates
 -David McNeill, Executive Officer of Baldwin Hills Conservancy
 -Bruce Saito, Executive Director of Los Angeles Conservation Corps
 -Misty Sanford, Consultant to Environmental Defense and Co-Author of Walking to the Park
 -Brenda Shockley, President of Community Build, Inc
 -Amy Wakeland, Executive Director of Coalition for Kids
 -Tricia Ward, Founder and Artistic Director of ARTScorpsLA

The Walking to the Park report prepared by the Urban Land Trust Task Force is a roadmap for the establishment of NLT.  The report outlines the Trust’s goals and highlights potential challenges the organization may face in the City of Los Angeles.  Released in August 2002, a copy of that report can be viewed at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/2256_WalkingParkReport.pdf.