As Los Angeles’s national park ranking continues to decline, access to green spaces has become a critical issue. A 2024 Trust for Public Land report reveals that among the nation’s 100 most populous cities, LA ranks 88th in terms of park access, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities.

In a media briefing on February 21, hosted by Ethnic Media Services, a panel of experts discussed this new national model for park equity in LA. 

Speakers

  • Jimmy Kim, General Manager, Department of Recreation and Parks
  • Jessica Henson, Partner at OLIN 
  • Francisco Romero, Program Manager, Prevention Institute
  • Roxy Rivas, Deputy Director of Capital Projects and Planning, Pacoima Beautiful
  • Jon Christensen, Adjunct Assistant Professor, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Despite owning and operating 559 park sites spanning over 16,000 acres, including 92 miles of trails, the city’s park system has faced significant challenges. Jon Christensen explained that the decline in LA’s park ranking is primarily attributed to dwindling funds and unequal park access.

Low-income neighborhoods are significantly disadvantaged, with 73% less park space compared to high-income neighborhoods. Moreover, communities of color have 66% less park space than predominantly white neighborhoods.

To address these issues, the city has implemented various measures. In 1996, voters approved Proposition K, which allocated $25 million annually in park and recreational funding from property taxes. However, this funding is set to expire in 2026.

In response, the city council introduced Proposition SP in 2022, which proposed an annual allocation of approximately $227 million in park and recreational funding from parcel taxes. Unfortunately, this measure failed due to its lack of a detailed plan for fund allocation.

In 2014, a similar vague measure on the Los Angeles County level also failed. To address this issue, the county conducted a Park Needs Assessment (PNA) to prioritize funding based on park needs and access data. Two years later, Measure A, a proposal based on this data, was approved by voters.

Now, the city is embarking on a landmark new PNA. Christensen, a consultant on the project led by the landscape architecture firm OLIN, expressed confidence that this PNA is truly exceptional and will serve as a national benchmark.

After a news outreach period that commenced last week, the city will compile data citywide, including heat island severity, tree canopy cover, pollution levels, unemployment rates, housing affordability, population density, safety concerns, the proximity of parks, and amenities such as sports courts. This data will be used to draft a PNA, which will be published online by September and finalized by the end of the year.

Throughout the year, Olin will organize over 82 community engagement events across the city, catering to diverse languages and formats, including traditional meetings, community-based organizations, statistically valid surveys, tribal outreach, and various other methods. According to Christensen, for a funding measure supported by voters, a community-driven plan is crucial.

In contrast to the current federal discourse where the phrases “equity” and “climate resiliency” are being removed from many agendas, Los Angeles will continue to prioritize its investments where they are most impactful.

Surveys, community meeting details, and PNA updates are also available in 11 languages online.

Jessica Henson emphasized that not every neighborhood is the same and requires the same resources. Therefore, the city will collaborate closely with council districts and neighborhood councils to understand the unique needs of each community, including identifying areas that need new or expanded parks.

The city has yet to determine the ballot initiative method for these park updates, but OLIN is considering a city council-proposed measure, a citizen-proposed petition campaign, and funding plans through philanthropic foundations partnered with local parks.

Henson concluded by highlighting the importance of considering the lived realities of Angelenos’ geographies and how parks can significantly enhance their quality of life.

A 2023 peer-reviewed UCLA study revealed that enhancing green spaces in Los Angeles County to the median level could potentially extend the collective life expectancy of residents in under-resourced communities by up to 908,800 years.

Francisco Romero emphasized the significance of parks as essential infrastructure that safeguard public health. He highlighted the various benefits parks provide, including opportunities for physical activity, time in nature, social connections, and rest, while also filtering air, removing pollution, buffering noise, cooling temperatures, and even replenishing groundwater.

During the recent devastating fires and the COVID-19 pandemic, parks served as one of the first safe spaces for people to emerge from shelter, alleviate stress, and access essential resources such as food, vaccines, air purifiers, and mutual aid distribution. Romero underscored the vital role of parks as lifelines, and the PNA serves as a diagnostic tool to guide generationally investing in our well-being.

Jimmy Kim emphasized the multifaceted nature of parks, noting that they not only serve as recreational spaces but also anchor communities as gathering and emergency hubs. He shared examples of how parks have been utilized during local fires, providing shelter services for displaced individuals, and during the Northridge earthquake, where people sought refuge in parks. Kim underscored the city’s commitment to planning for the future.

However, the city’s parks and recreation department is currently grappling with a $2.1 million backlog in deferred maintenance. To address this deficit, Roxy Rivas emphasized the importance of multi-benefit projects in expanding parks.

One such project undertaken by PB was Bradley Alley and Plaza, the first planned shared street in the City of Los Angeles. This project aims to slow traffic, create a relaxing environment, encourage residents to walk, bike, and socialize.

“It used to be a through street that we permanently closed off to vehicles, and it’s now being used by the community. I just came this morning and a local residents’ group, HACLA, was holding a food distribution event. Quinceaneras are thrown here. Everybody loves this space.”

In addition to visiting and studying stormwater capture projects in recreational parks across LA County, such as Adventure Park in Whittier and Alondra Park in Lawndale, PB has also been exploring the concept of multi-benefit projects.

“This concept of multi-benefit projects would let us combine different funding streams to not only build them, but to operate and maintain them. Especially here in the San Fernando Valley, we have far fewer parks per capita … The community is telling us that amenities like restrooms and courts are either not up to par, or are completely closed down.”

“We know there’s a need,” emphasized Rivas. “This PNA is going to be a crucial tool to put a number to these stories and identify where our money can go.”