𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘: Volunteers Join Forces to Plant Trees and Capture Stormwater in Venice

VENICE, CA — Saturday, September 27, 2025 — Volunteers from UCLA and members of the Verdant Venice Group (VVG) fanned out across Sunset Avenue, Hampton Drive, and 3rd Street on Saturday morning to plant a variety of native and drought-tolerant trees as part of an ambitious effort to green the neighborhood and support local wildlife.

Janin Paine, a VVG member wearing an “I Speak for the Trees” T-shirt, explained that the day’s work was part of a larger “pollinator corridor” project coordinated with Councilwoman Traci Park’s office, the CD11 Foundation, and the Venice BID. “We’ve planted probably over 600 trees in Venice in the last six years, mostly with volunteer groups,” Paine said. “Today we’re planting Coast Live Oak, cassia, and chitalpa to create a continuous corridor for pollinators.”

The project included a process known as “depaving,” in which cement is removed to open soil for tree planting. “This area had wide parkways but a lot of unused cement,” Paine noted. “We got permits, removed the concrete, and secured urban forestry approvals for the new trees.” A busload of UCLA students joined local volunteers for the morning effort, part of VVG’s regular Saturday plantings and tree-care sessions held from 8 to 10 a.m. throughout Venice.

In addition to the tree planting, Paine highlighted a new community initiative funded by a grant from the county’s Safe Clean Water Program. VVG has developed watershed maps showing how stormwater flows through Venice and will host a workshop on October 8 to gather resident input on water-capture ideas. Suggestions range from small swales and tree wells to imaginative concepts such as restoring a natural river along Rose Avenue. “Because we’re so close to the ocean, unfiltered runoff is a big issue,” Paine said, noting the group’s interest in capturing both stormwater and underground “dewatering” flows from construction sites.

Saturday’s plantings add another link in Verdant Venice Group’s growing network of urban habitat. By combining native trees, pollinator pathways, and community engagement, the volunteers aim to reduce runoff, improve air quality, and create a healthier urban ecosystem for people and wildlife alike.