Durfee Thompson School Park

12233 Star Street, El Monte, CA

Durfee Thompson Elementary School

BEFORE – Amigo de los Rios and our community partners renovated this park site, Durfee Thompson School Students suffered from a disproportionate level of asthma – and were faced with a dusty and hot field for exercise, which presented challenges to their physical education program and health. Students fearing they would enter Middle School less physically fit than their peers approached the Superintendent for help in establishing better opportunities for exercise.

AFTER – project completion the .7 acre Durfee Thompson School Park and Trail was surrounded by a perimeter of green – over 300 trees were planted on campus providing a green screen of shade and cooler temperatures. A discovery of nature takes place along the perimeter trail and within the outdoor classroom. Amigos created bio swales to manage storm water, developed a landscape with native plants providing a sense of place and heritage also benefiting equestrian users of the adjacent County trail. Local residents, parents, and students benefit from the meandering exercise trail which connects to the San Gabriel River Regional Trail.

Community Involvement

Amigos engaged local residents, teachers and students from the two schools, professionals working with the numerous orthopedically challenged children at Bryon E Thompson School.

Teachers helped us design the educational native habitat area in such a manner as to complement State of California curricula in science, art, and history. Special Needs students and the professionals working with them helped us incorporate amenities and features that would be supportive and stimulating to these children.

Project Team: Emerald Necklace Group | Amigos de los Rios with VCC Engineering, Multiple Youth Corps: California Conservation Corp, San Gabriel Conservation Corp, and Los Angeles Conservation Corp helped implement the greening project.