Addressing Parks in Los Angeles
It’s a common sentiment shared repeatedly.
In Los Angeles, for many residents, the neighborhood park serves as both their front and back yard.
These parks become the backdrop for family gatherings, where tables are set for celebrations and birthdays.
It’s also where children learn to swim, and various sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball engage participants of all ages.
Communities come together here—to escape the chaos, hike, catch a concert, or just enjoy some downtime.
However, as I mentioned previously, the city’s 100 recreational centers, spread across roughly 500 parks and 100 acres, are often lacking and not very accessible for many locals. Recently, public land trusts ranked LA’s park system 90 out of 100 in terms of access, area, amenities, investment, and equity.
This is rather concerning, especially with Los Angeles preparing to host both the World Cup and the Olympics. Yet, there’s a chance for residents across the city to evaluate what they appreciate, what they miss, and what actions to take next.
A few months back, the city commissioned research that was curated by the landscape design firm Olin, incorporating feedback from city planners, community organizations, and countless residents. This report was shared online recently, detailing the historical decline and potential strategies for improvement.
Residents will get 45 days to provide input online or at community meetings. The final report will go to the Recreation and Parks Committee, and ideally, someone from city hall will spearhead efforts to revitalize this crucial yet overlooked community resource.
Key findings from the nearly 500-page needs assessment include:
About half of those surveyed reported having sufficient parks and recreational centers within walking distance.
Yet, fewer than 40% rated their park as either excellent or good.
While LA spends more per capita on parks ($92 annually) than many other large cities, like Chicago ($182), Dallas ($232), Washington, DC ($407), and San Francisco ($583), the department’s maintenance budget has stagnated, and staff numbers have dwindled. Meanwhile, the challenges loom larger as temporary funding sources are set to diminish in the coming years.
Almost two-thirds of respondents expressed support for new taxes, bonds, or other means to generate additional revenue.
“I think we’ve confirmed what we typically know,” said Jimmy Kim, general manager of the Recreation Bureau, regarding the Needs Assessment Survey. He added that the findings serve as a framework for effectively utilizing current resources while also exploring new funding avenues. “My message to Los Angeles is to get involved in this process.”
Kim noted that the current workforce is only half of what it was before, and basic park maintenance feels like a struggle. While the division’s budget has incrementally increased over the last 15 years, it has not kept pace with the city’s overall budget growth. Additionally, pressures from inflation, a city-wide budget deficit, and the costs of maintaining aging facilities (which require over $2 billion in deferred maintenance) have compounded the issue.
The division is also hindered by outdated funding practices established during the 1930s. Its uniqueness entails raising some funds through programs and concessions, meaning they have to cover utility bills and reimburse the city for employee benefits.
“For the past century,” noted Jessica Henson from Olin, “the same portion of the city budget has been dedicated to parks, but we are doing more today, especially amidst challenges like Covid responses and fire emergencies.”
Previously, I highlighted a simple and quick way to expand park space. Unlocking the gates of integrated schoolyards is a step forward. So far, ten of these have opened, and new agreements between the city and school district have added more access points. However, two significant hurdles remain: securing funding and replacing asphalt with green spaces.
The study employed an approach from the UCLA Institute of Environmental and Sustainability to optimize resource use. Their Persquaremile tool identifies numerous park sites that could be enhanced for maximum impact and conversion opportunities for schools and public areas into parks that serve many residents.
“There’s a lot of effort being put in to make this happen,” said John Christensen from UCLA.
Transforming the system will require time, noted Guillermo Rodriguez, who is part of the research steering committee and associated with the California State Public Land Trust. They ranked LA near the bottom of major park systems.
“Cities are investing significantly, and LA is lagging behind,” Rodriguez commented.
The study also proposed several revenue-generating options, such as updating the funding percentage via a charter amendment, enhancing nonprofit partnerships, extending Proposition K, and launching a new funding initiative by the fall of 2026.
“Since Mayor Tom Bradley’s era, the park system has been overlooked. This genuinely needs strong leadership and a substantial investment, and I believe Angelenos are ready to step up,” Rodriguez added.
That leadership is essential from Mayor Karen Bass and every city council member. To catch their attention, two public meetings are scheduled:
Thursdays from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Bellevue Recreation Centre in Silver Lake and Saturdays from 10 AM to noon at the Westwood Recreation Centre.
For a schedule of future virtual meetings and to view the Needs Assessment Survey online, visit need.parks.lacity.gov.
