A Greener Future is a Healthier Future for Western Long Beach
The Crisis We Face
Western Long Beach residents live in what has been called the "Diesel Death Corridor" – a stark name for a stark reality. Located alongside the 710 interstate, this area accounts for 20% of all particulate emissions in Southern California, creating one of the most polluted environments in the United States. The consequences of industrial pollution and a lack of green space in much of Long Beach are severe and well-documented.
Limited Clean Air
Long Beach experiences good air quality only about 10% of the year (Cronkite News 2019). Along the 710 corridor pollutants also include black carbon, fine silica and gravel particles, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some examples of which include chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, methylene chloride and xylene (CalMatters 2025). We also breathe methyl bromide emissions from nearby businesses that fumigate imported produce (City of Long Beach 2025).
Respiratory Health Crisis
Children in Long Beach are twice as likely to develop asthma compared to the national average (Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma). Pollution has also been linked to health issues such as decreased lung function, asthma, and increased rates of lung and heart diseases (Hahn 2024).
Environmental Racism
83% of the one million residents in the Long Beach/East LA Corridor identify as Black or Hispanic, highlighting how environmental burdens fall disproportionately on communities of color (LA County 2024).
Urban Heat Amplification
With 60% of Long Beach covered by impervious surfaces, stormwater management issues and urban heat island effects significantly impact western neighborhoods (City of Long Beach).
The Transformative Power of Green Spaces
Creating parks and green spaces is not about aesthetics – it's a critical intervention.
Restore Air Quality
Trees and vegetation act as natural air filters, capturing hazardous pollutants that would otherwise enter residents' lungs. Studies show that trees filter dangerous fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) from nearby diesel emissions (Journal of Infrastructure Development 2019).
According to the EPA, urban tree cover can remove significant amounts of harmful PM2.5 from the air, with removal rates directly proportional to the percentage of tree cover in an area (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2015). More trees mean cleaner air.
Improve Physical & Mental Health
Access to green space:
-
Reduces psychological stress by up to 25% (Annual Review of Public Health 2014)
-
Decreases obesity risk by encouraging physical activity – People with limited park access face a 50% higher obesity risk (The Lancet 2008)
-
Provides space for "green exercise" which has been linked to better health outcomes (WHO 2016)
Enhance Community Safety
Green spaces don't just improve environmental conditions – they make neighborhoods safer:
-
Areas with more vegetation have shown 48% lower crime rates (Environment and Behavior 2001)
-
Neighborhoods with green space experience 12% less violent crime (USDA Forest Service)
-
Parks foster stronger community connections and increase positive use of public spaces
Build Climate Resilience
As climate change intensifies, green spaces provide critical infrastructure benefits:
-
Tree cover reduces stormwater runoff by up to 40% (Urban Forestry & Urban Greening)
-
Vegetation can lower local temperatures by up to 2°C during summer months (BMC Public Health 2010)
-
Parks help address the runoff from hard impervious asphalt and concrete surfaces which overwhelms storm drains and floods downstream neighbors (NRPA 2017)
Save 3701 Pacific Place for the green space we need.
THE RIVERPARK COALITION'S VISION isn't just about building a park – it's about creating a healthier environment where children can breathe clean air; a space for community gathering and physical activity; a natural buffer against pollution, flooding, and heat; a step toward environmental justice and equity for not just some but for all of Long Beach.