All of these people live in 470 square miles and although there are large pieces of undeveloped land, such as the Santa Monica Mountains and Griffith Park, many areas of the City are heavily developed. Additionally, Los Angeles is immediately adjacent other densely populated cities, making the burdens on available green space even greater. Greenways are an excellent way to meet this challenge since large parcels of land are not necessary. Greenways can provide the links that bring existing small parks and other green spaces together and make them more accessible. Greenways can also bring together neighboring cities by planting across city boundaries, such as along a bikeway that runs from a suburb to downtown or from central city areas to the beach.
Greenways can coexist with access routes for utility lines and flood control channels.
Greenways also are an excellent interim use of properties that are currently vacant, but for which development plans exist. This is especially true when the existing plans won't go into effect for many years. The Environmental Affairs Department's role in the greenways process is one of facilitator, bringing together the many agencies, departments, and groups necessary to create a network of greenways stretching across the City. Until recently, the ideas, information, and resources available have been very fragmented. Early on in this process, the National Park Service - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program played an important role by researching and mapping linear corridors in the City.