Going Wild

Aga ChenFu Helps Restore Native Habitats in the South Bay

In January, nearly 100 volunteers gathered to spend the day planting 850 native plants in and around the Lower Pond at Hopkins Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach. The activity was coordinated by the South Bay Parkland Conservancy (SBPC), which promotes the restoration, preservation and public use of coastal land resources in the South Bay.

“It was an epic effort,” says Aga ChenFu, SBPC board chair. “This was the most volunteers we’ve had at an event. But we also have a strong core volunteer group who come to Wilderness Park on Tuesdays and Saturdays. They worked for weeks preparing everything.”

Under then-Mayor Bill Brand, the city of Redondo Beach decided to reconstruct the pond, which had been filled in with dirt more than a decade earlier. “They asked us to consult and recommend native plants to integrate into the natural landscape,” says ChenFu. “Of course, we were happy to give our recommendations and coordinate the volunteers.”

With expertise on their board, including a biologist and landscaper, the SBPC recommended and designed the plant layout, working with the city to select a native plant palette that would thrive in that environment. On planting day, volunteers planted long grasses inside the pond, and various types of sage, monkey flowers and sunflowers—among others—around the pond.

ChenFu and her husband moved to Redondo Beach from New York City in 2014, and she looked forward to introducing their two young daughters to more nature and open spaces. A few years later, the girls enjoyed attending a summer camp at Wilderness Park. When she saw a flyer about restoration efforts there, ChenFu brought the family to help weed and plant.

She met former board member Barbara Epstein, who encouraged her to get involved. With a background in public relations, ChenFu agreed to help with communications and soon joined the board. As president, she continues to lead the SBPC’s marketing and communications efforts.

After her second child was born, ChenFu became certified as a personal trainer. “To me, fitness is about how moving and getting stronger make you feel,” she says. “When you’re feeling good in your body, you can do more of what you enjoy, whether it’s going out with friends, volunteering or whatever sets your heart on fire.”

Practicing what she preaches, ChenFu plays beach volleyball, climbs, hikes, practices yoga and walks at least twice a week. She has held other volunteer positions, especially when her daughters were in elementary school. She served on the school’s wellness council and taught nutrition classes to children through the Beach Cities Health District’s LiveWell Kids nutrition program.

“It’s amazing to see their eyes light up when children discover a new food or plant something for the first time,” ChenFu says.

Reflecting on her enjoyment of the SBPC’s activities, she says, “It’s the community that I’m really drawn to. We’re building something together, and it’s not just restoring the native habitat but the time we spend together planting. We’re outside, chatting and getting to know one another.” 

Photographed by Michael Neveux