The U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles (USGBC-LA) Chapter has selected its 3rd annual Legacy Project, The Discovery Garden, created by the City of Simi Valley. The Discovery Garden was selected as the 2018 project with its goals to promote sustainability, encourage equal access to natural wildlife, and help inspire the members of the community to further conserve natural resources, especially water. USGBC-LA is providing $20,000 funding and volunteers to help the community create a garden of native landscaping, which will also serve as a replicable model for both residential and commercial gardens around the City. 

“This project is in the right place, at the right time,” states USGBC-LA Executive Director Dominique Hargreaves. “It is located right at the heart of the civic center of Simi Valley which has led to the engagement of many generations of nature lovers who are pitching in to help build the Discovery Garden. The Rotary Club, Senior Center, Boys and Girls Clubs and Friends of the Library are all next door to the Library. This is a true community project that will deliver a legacy of discovery of native plants and pollinators.”

The Discovery Garden will be a permanent part of Simi Valley Public Library grounds. The project will include sustainable design elements and is easy to maintain.

“The City of Simi Valley is excited to be working with the USGBC-LA through the Legacy Project; we welcome the passion and expertise that USGBC-LA brings,” said Sommer Barwick, Community Services Director for the City of Simi Valley.  “Our Discovery Garden Project is an opportunity to bring an awareness on sustainability and resource conservation to the families in our community, knowledge they can use when landscaping their own homes and businesses.”

The Legacy Project is now an annual gift from the USGBC-LA to a local community, a permanent project providing an enduring means of service and education.  The LA Chapter decided to continue awarding annual Legacy Projects after the inaugural 2016 EcoTech Makerspace in Gardena, and following last year’s Veggie Bus Project, which was deemed a success for and by the local community of South Central Los Angelus.

Visit members.usgbc-la.org/donate.