A running track at Palisades Charter High School, severely damaged in the 2025 Palisades wildfires, has been given a new life as public walkways for the LA Metro, in a project highlighting circular economy principles. The initiative diverted more than 140,000 pounds of rubber material from landfill, avoiding an estimated 340 tons of carbon emissions and providing a cost-neutral solution for the school district.
The project was born from the widespread destruction caused by the 2025 wildfires, which burned over 23,400 acres and destroyed nearly 6,800 structures in one of Los Angeles County’s most destructive fire events. Palisades Charter High School was among the sites that sustained significant damage, rendering its athletic facilities, including its running track, unusable. Students had to be temporarily moved to another site while repairs were undertaken.
In the aftermath, school officials faced a significant logistical and financial challenge: how to dispose of the ruined track. With landfill costs in Southern California being among the highest in the nation, traditional disposal was not only expensive but also contrary to the Los Angeles Unified School District's increasing focus on sustainability. The district, like many public entities, is under pressure to adopt more responsible material management practices and reduce its environmental footprint, a challenge explored in debates over the future of school athletic fields.
A circular solution for the city
The problem found its solution in a partnership with Ecore, a company specializing in recycled performance surfacing. Through its TRUcircularity program, Ecore connected the school's need for track removal with a concurrent project by the LA Metro to install new pedestrian walkways ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. The undamaged portions of the rubber track were reclaimed, processed, and repurposed for the new walkways.
The collaboration provided a cost-neutral alternative to landfilling for the school. It also aligned with LA County’s broader goals to integrate greenhouse gas avoidance measures into its planning, as outlined in official sustainability plans like the Our County Sustainability Plan.
The entire process was localized to minimize environmental impact. The reclaimed track material was processed within 50 miles of the school, supporting local recycling infrastructure and reducing transportation-related emissions. The project was carried out by SpectraTurf, a California-based surfacing company.
From tires to tracks to walkways
This initiative represents a third generation of use for the rubber material. The material began as tires, was then recycled into the athletic track at Palisades Charter High School, and has now been repurposed again for public infrastructure. Ecore’s TRUcircularity program is built on this model of extending the life of materials through multiple cycles of use, a core principle of the circular economy.
By transforming waste into a valuable community asset, the project serves as a practical example of sustainable development in action. The new walkways will be used by thousands of residents and visitors, particularly as the city prepares for an influx of people for major international events, including the Olympics and the 2026 World Cup. These large-scale events put a spotlight on the city's infrastructure and its capacity for sustainable management.
This project is a small but significant part of the region’s recovery and rebuilding efforts following devastating natural disasters. Community-level recovery has been a long process, involving local leaders seeking federal support for initiatives that help rebuild communities in a more resilient and sustainable manner, an ongoing theme since the aftermath of previous wildfires.
A model for future projects
The success of the Palisades track project offers a potential model for other schools, municipalities, and organizations across the country looking for environmentally and financially viable alternatives to traditional disposal. As governments and corporations face increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, circular solutions that turn waste streams into new products are becoming more attractive.
The project demonstrates that with creative partnerships and a focus on circular principles, it is possible to rebuild from disaster in a way that benefits the community, the environment, and the bottom line. These recycled walkways will be a lasting legacy of resilience and innovation, part of a busy roster of summer activities and infrastructure upgrades across the city, from the Port of Los Angeles to inland communities.
Looking forward, the walkways will serve as a durable and safe surface for pedestrians for years to come, a tangible outcome of a complex challenge turned into a community benefit. The material, designed for long-term value, will continue its journey as part of Los Angeles's essential public infrastructure.
