Clean California Revitalizes Los Angeles: $1.2 Billion Initiative Transforms Streets, Parks, and Communities

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From Jordan Downs to South LA’s MLK Boulevard, state-funded beautification projects are removing millions of tons of trash, creating jobs, and bringing green space to underserved neighborhoods.

The ambitious Clean California program, launched by Governor Gavin Newsom in July 2021 and led by Caltrans, has surpassed a major milestone: since its inception, it has removed 3.4 million cubic yards of trash and debris—the equivalent of more than 136,000 garbage trucks—from highways and public spaces across the state.

Beyond beautifying streets and parks, the program has had a strong social and economic impact:

• It has mobilized more than 72,000 community volunteers.
• Generated 18,000 jobs.
• Funded 314 beautification projects, of which 191 have already been completed.

“Clean California has helped beautify spaces, improve infrastructure, increase access to public transportation, and much more,” said Ann Fox, Caltrans District 11 Director.

While communities across California are seeing results, Los Angeles is among the largest beneficiaries of the program.

Jordan Downs: A Community Transformation

In 2023, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) was awarded $3.9 million through the Clean California Local Grant Program. The investment is transforming Children’s Park at Jordan Downs, one of LA’s most historically underserved neighborhoods. The project includes:

• New outdoor recreational spaces.
• A vermicomposting and climate-mitigation initiative in partnership with Angel City Soils.
• Green-industry job training for local residents.

“This funding allows us to bring environmental justice directly to our residents by creating safe, clean, and sustainable community spaces,” said Doug Guthrie, HACLA President and CEO.

District 7 Projects (LA & Ventura Counties)

Caltrans District 7, which covers Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, has received a significant share of the $1.2 billion statewide investment. In the latest round alone, nearly $115 million in Clean California grants were awarded, with Los Angeles projects including:

• Beautification around freeway underpasses and off-ramps, reducing blight and illegal dumping.
• New landscaping, pedestrian walkways, and lighting in high-traffic corridors.
• Community-led public art installations reflecting the cultural identity of LA neighborhoods.

“Clean California is not just about cleaning up trash—it’s about restoring pride in communities and making neighborhoods safer, more livable places,” said Tony Tavares, Caltrans Director.

Beautification & Enhancement Projects

• 105 Willowbrook Trail (I-105, Los Angeles)
  Construction of approximately 2,650 feet of walking paths to improve active transportation in Willowbrook.
• Downey Dollison Fitness Trail (I-5, Los Angeles)
  Walking paths connecting neighborhoods to parks and schools, enhancing accessibility and physical activity.
• Solstice Canyon Creek Art Murals (SR-1, Los Angeles)
  Installation of public art murals on a pedestrian underpass, blending beautification and community identity.
• Lankershim Blvd to Beaudry Ave Beautification (US-101, Los Angeles)
  Decorative rock designs, native plantings, artwork installations, colored concrete, and irrigation upgrades.
• Sun Valley – Paxton to Roscoe Blvd (I-5, Los Angeles)
  Fence installation with vines, irrigation restoration, soil stabilization using decorative rockscapes, and slope paving.
• 10 and 60 Corridors Safety Enhancements (I-10, I-60, Los Angeles)
  Replacement of damaged fencing, rockscape at bridge abutments, and secure covers for bridge openings.
• Northwest LA Corridor Safety Enhancements (SR-2, US-101, SR-134, I-170, I-405)
  Safety improvements similar to other corridors: fencing, rockscape installation, and graffiti reduction.
• 210 Foothill Blvd Safety Enhancements (SR-210, Los Angeles)
  Fence upgrades and slope repairs at the Eastbound 210 exit at Foothill Blvd to improve pedestrian and infrastructure safety.
• North Hollywood Beautification (SR-170, Los Angeles)
  Cobblestone groundcover, decorative concrete, art enhancements, removal of barbed wire, and creation of a dog park adjacent to a Tiny Home Village.
• 110 Imperial Highway – Adams (SR-110, Los Angeles)
  Roadside landscaping with trees, shrubs, ground covers, and vine planting to deter graffiti.  
• Long Beach – Signal Hill (I-405, Los Angeles)
  Trees, shrubbery, ground covers, and aviation-themed public art to beautify the area.
• Soto St. to City Terrace Dr. (I-10, Los Angeles)
  Addition of trees, shrubs, ground covers, and vine planting on walls for anti-graffiti purposes. 5 and 118 Interchange Beautification (I-5, SR-118, Los Angeles)
  Similar enhancements: fence and vine restoration, irrigation, soil stabilization, decorative paving, and slope work. Compton / Paramount Beautification (I-710, Los Angeles)
  Strategic planting—including trees and ground covers—as well as public art to uplift these communities.
• North LA Corridors Safety Enhancements (I-5, SR-118, SR-210)
  Safety enhancements through fencing upgrades and rockscape installations at strategic points.
• South LA Corridors Safety Enhancement (SR-91, SR-110, I-405, I-710)
  Similar corridor-wide safety and beauty investments across South LA.

A standout project is the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Equity & Greening Project in South Central LA:

• Investment: $10 million total, including ~$5 million from Clean California Local Grant funding.
• Scope: Native plant landscaping across medians along 1.5 miles (Figueroa St to Central Ave), ADA-compliant sidewalks, 6,500 new native plants, 35 shade trees, water-efficient irrigation, and improvements at 14 bus stops.

 “Residents and visitors alike will benefit from a more comfortable, safe and beautiful experience as they walk and bike along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.” Caltrans District 7 Director Gloria Roberts

Councilmember Curren Price noted : “The MLK Streetscape project is a major step toward revitalizing South Central, fostering biodiversity, advancing equity, and bringing green space to areas once covered in concrete.”

Community & Economic Benefits in LA

• Job creation: Dozens of cleanup crews, contractors, and nonprofit partners have been hired in Los Angeles, many through workforce development programs that target formerly incarcerated individuals and unemployed residents.
• Volunteer engagement: Local groups, including LA Conservation Corps and Pacoima Beautiful, have mobilized residents in community cleanups, mural painting, and tree planting.
• Improved safety: By removing trash, fixing lighting, and redesigning sidewalks, several LA corridors have reported reduced illegal dumping and improved pedestrian safety.

For LA, where illegal dumping and street cleanliness are long-standing concerns, Clean California represents one of the largest state investments in public space revitalization in decades. From Jordan Downs in Watts to freeway corridors across the city, the initiative is not only removing trash but reshaping community environments—with lasting cultural, social, and economic impacts.