Late last year, the City of Los Angeles broke ground on new green space flanking Metro's Westwood/Rancho Park light rail station.

The Westwood Greenway, located on two narrow strips of land spanning between Westwood Boulevard and Overland Avenue, will provide usable spaces such as an amphitheater, walking paths, and interpretative signage, in addition to landscaping intended to create habitat for birds, butterflies, and other animals.

In addition to providing greenery and open space, the Greenway is intended to improve water quality in the Santa Monica Bay by reducing pollutants from urban runoff through existing storm drains under Overland Avenue.  Plans call for bioswales which will divert stormwater for treatment through pump stations.

The approximately $5.6-million project is anticipated to open before the end of 2020.

Plans for the Westwood Greenway originated from a grassroots proposal to daylight storm drains passing under the Expo Line light rail corridor.  The project, was made possible by a 2011 decision to not include parking at the Westwood/Rancho Park Station, and was later included in former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in his 50 Parks Initiative.