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Game Plan

Our turf

Mapping the Movement

The LA region is huge. And resources are limited. So where do we start?

We created a game plan to prioritize the places where need and the 2028 Games come together

The map below identifies “double-burdened” areas — communities that face higher temperatures, less tree cover, and greater health and economic challenges, and that are expected to be significantly impacted by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Future iterations of this map will include additional data and deeper community-level insights to further refine priorities. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • ShadeLA is a coalition of partners working to coordinate, align, and accelerate shade investments across the region. This map serves as a guide to focus those efforts where they’ll be most needed. 

    Many coalition members are already advancing shade projects in these areas. Using this map, ShadeLA will align coalition efforts, attract additional resources, and direct investments between 2026-2028 to the identified priority communities. 

    Beyond our coalition, this map can serve as a guide for other groups interested in shade investment to target projects in these areas. Our goal is to scale high-impact shade solutions in neighborhoods with the greatest need and demonstrated community interest.

  • There is a significant need for more shade across the L.A. region. Many communities throughout L.A. want–and deserve–greater protection from extreme heat.  This combined independent analysis, developed by the County and City of Los Angeles, prioritized “double burden” neighborhoods. These are communities that: 

    1.  Face a high need for shade due to factors like high population density, exposure to extreme heat, high air pollution, and low existing shade cover, and
    2.  Are expected to experience a significant impact from Olympic and Paralympic-related events because of their proximity to venues or major transit hubs.

  • Many communities across L.A. — including those with Olympic and Paralympic venues — need more shade. The absence of some communities from this map does not mean they lack need. 

    Comprehensive City and County plans, such as the Community Forest Management Plan and County Heat Action Plan, outline long-term strategies to expand tree cover and built shade across many L.A. neighborhoods. 

    This analysis, on the other hand, was designed to identify the highest-need neighborhoods based on a specific set of criteria, including: population density, extreme heat exposure, high air pollution, low existing shade cover, among others, and significant anticipated impact from the Olympic and Paralympic Games and related events.  The map represents a targeted prioritization approach, not a comprehensive list of all communities that would benefit from additional shade. 

  • Yes. The map will continue to be refined and updated over time. This initial analysis was developed by ShadeLA institutional partners using currently available data provided by the City and County of Los Angeles. In the coming months, we will incorporate additional data  from the Cities of Inglewood, Compton, and Long Beach, as well as refine our analysis based on new sources of data as we’re able to access them.