Working Together
to Preserve Holmby Westwood’s Beautiful Tree Canopy

welcome

The Holmby Westwood residential neighborhood was created in 1925 by the Janss Investment Company.  Large, irregularly shaped lots were planned around curving streets that followed the natural contours of the land. Telephone and electrical wires were concealed underground, and architectural design and quality standards were established. The neighborhood‘s desirability was further defined by a unified street tree plan with a variety of attractive tree species planted on the street parkways.

Today, Holmby Westwood residents are committed to maintaining the beauty of our historic, lush, and expansive tree canopy by continuing to plant parkway trees that reflect the original Janss’ plan while taking into account today’s changing climate conditions.  Our hope is that in another 100 years neighborhood residents will experience the same beauty and benefits of parkway trees that we enjoy today.

INTRODUCING THE GREEN TEAM

The Holmby Westwood Green Team was founded in 2018 under the auspices of the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association (“HWPOA”). 

With the financial support of HWPOA the Green Team has:

  • Assembled a working group of neighbors who are committed to preserving and improving Holmby Westwood’s tree canopy

  • Organized and planted over 75 replacement trees  

  • Created a street-by-street replacement tree plan for our parkways in consultation with the L.A. Urban Forestry Division and one of the City’s leading consulting arborists

  • Wrote and curated several articles on tree care that have been shared with our community through the HWPOA newsletter

  • Created this website as an enduring resource for the future

Going forward, we will be:

  • Organizing street-by-street plantings of parkway trees and community outreach

  • Assisting neighbors who plant parkway trees on their own

  • Working with the City on tree maintenance issues

  • Developing resources for our community’s tree planting activity

  • Identifying resources for our trees.

There are two ways to plant Parkway trees

Here’s how to plant a parkway tree on your own

Find out about our community tree plantings

Our Vision and Mission

Holmby Westwood’s beautiful, shaded parkway trees will inspire the current and future generations of residents to unite in action to sustain the neighborhood’s treasured street tree legacy. 

The Holmby Westwood Green Team will facilitate the protection, preservation, and replenishment of the parkway tree canopy gracing and distinguishing our neighborhood.

Our Goals

  • Plan and Advocate

    Work with our volunteers and professionals to develop and implement a master street tree plan that updates the original Janss design in accordance with current City requirements and climate adaptivity.

  • Educate and Inform

    Through various communications, including the HWPOA newsletter, help neighbors understand the origins and value of the neighborhood’s street tree legacy, proper tree care and maintenance, and importance of sustainable planting.

  • Plant and Maintain

    Recruit and deploy volunteers to undertake strategic, well-informed tree planting, maintenance, and replacement projects.


  • BUILD AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS

    Establish ties with City leaders, non-profit partners, and tree professionals whose assistance can positively affect the well-being of our neighborhood trees.

Why do Trees Matter?

Holmby Westwood’s tree canopy is one of the neighborhood’s defining features.  Our beautiful tree-lined streets offer environmental, health, and economic benefits.  Trees combat climate change by improving air quality, capturing rainwater, reducing soil erosion, increasing urban biodiversity, and helping to regulate air temperature.  The beauty and shade of our trees provide important psychological and mental health benefits. Property values can increase up to 20% because of our trees.

Read more from California Releaf. Benefits of Urban Trees
The Power of Trees: Changing Our World One Tree at a Time.


Holmby Westwood’s Parkway Trees

Holmby Westwood’s two thousand parkway trees create a beautiful canopy for our neighborhood.  The original trees were planted in the late 1920’s before our houses were constructed. Age, disease, pests, and climate have taken their toll on many of the original neighborhood trees, but, to date, your Green Team has organized replanting of over 75 trees.  Another two hundred parkway trees are missing.

What People Are Saying

“Plant trees with a future, not just for the future”

— Lisa Smith, Arborist

“Plant the right tree in the right place”

— Urban Forestry

“Trees do more than contribute to the look and feel of our neighborhoods — they are a key tool to protect vulnerable populations, improve public health, and enhance community well-being for all Angelenos.”

— Rachel Malarich,
Los Angeles City Forest Officer

Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles celebrates Green Team tree planting and its contribution to making the Holmby Westwood neighborhood greener, healthier, and more unified.