News | CoStar | August 2025

Los Angeles throws different kinds of shade at city heat before the Olympics

For Los Angeles residents and tourists used to sweltering in the summer heat, cool solutions are on tap: Oak trees are set to replace low-shade palms, water stations are popping up at new transit shelters, and more fabric awnings are covering open-air walkways.

The clock is ticking as temperatures rise across the city, spurring a drive to further shade the hottest streets before millions arrive for next year’s FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympic Games.

ShadeLA, a city and county campaign backed by the University of Southern California, UCLA, regional transit agency LA Metroand the LA28 Olympic Committee, is a high-profile part of a push involving commercial properties to cool cities across the United States.