Kids Thrive on Plant Chores at New Center

Ten-year-old Joanna Padilla likes all kinds of flowers, but her favorites are big red roses.

“I want to put them everywhere,” she said Friday.

Joanna and nine other children planted shrubs and small plants at the Pacoima Family Youth Center in preparation for the center’s grand opening Thursday..

The children, students at Pacoima Elementary and Maclay Middle School, helped design the courtyard garden, a 30-by-60-foot area in the middle of the community center, as part of the nonprofit Pacoima Beautiful program called Children Are Saving the Environment.

“We want to help the children develop a sense of pride in their community,” said Amalia Espinosa, director of the children’s program.

The landscaping was paid for with $5,000 from a U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant.

The garden is the last of several improvements and renovations made at the center.

Espinosa said the children attend sessions after school and learn about nature, the environment and the importance of recycling.

“The kids really want to take care of their neighborhood,” she said. “They even insisted on having recycling bins as part of the courtyard design.”