Related Articles
-Editorial
Los Angeles has fallen to 88th place out of 100 in a national ranking of park systems in major U.S. cities, highlighting a growing concern over equitable access to green spaces. In a city already facing deep socioeconomic disparities, the lack of park equity has become a critical issue for public health officials. As LA prepares to address this challenge through innovative solutions and community engagement, its approach could serve as a model for other cities striving to improve urban green spaces.
Jon Christensen, Adjunct Assistant Professor at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, provided an overview of the situation, emphasizing the city’s vast park network and the disparities in access. “The city of Los Angeles owns and operates over 100 park sites, spanning 16,000 acres and 92 miles of trails,” Christensen said. “However, 37% of Angelenos lack a park within walking distance, and that figure jumps to 73% in low-income communities and 66% in communities of color.”
A major funding challenge looms as Proposition K, which has provided up to $25 million annually for parks, expires next year. A recent ballot measure aimed at replacing those funds failed due to a lack of specificity in spending plans. Christensen highlighted how Los Angeles County successfully passed Measure A in 2016 by first conducting a comprehensive park needs assessment centered on equity. “There’s an urgent need for a similar assessment in the city, given the backlog of $2.1 billion in deferred maintenance and park improvements,” he added.
In response, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks has launched a new, state-of-the-art park needs assessment. Led by a team of consultants, including Christensen, the initiative will incorporate data-driven analysis and extensive community engagement. “This approach is best-in-class nationally and will serve as a model for other cities,” Christensen noted. The assessment will prioritize investments in underserved areas, enhance climate resilience, and create a long-term funding roadmap to ensure equitable access to parks for all Angelenos.
The City of Los Angeles has launched an ambitious Parks Needs Assessment (PNA) to evaluate and improve the city’s extensive park system, ensuring its future sustainability and accessibility for all Angelenos. The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Recreation and Parks in partnership with landscape architecture firm OLIN, aims to guide investment and policy decisions for the next 25 years.
Jimmy Kim, General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks, emphasized the critical role of parks in enhancing the city’s quality of life, particularly as Los Angeles faces mounting climate challenges.
“Our parks provide essential services, environmental benefits, and contribute to the well-being of all Angelenos,” Kim stated. “Being a lifelong resident of LA and having served in this department for 28 years, I know how vital our parks are to our communities. But with increasing climate challenges, including recent devastating wildfires, the need for well-maintained and strategically developed parks is more urgent than ever.”
The PNA will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of Los Angeles’ 16,000 acres of public parkland, examining the current state of recreational facilities and forecasting future needs. The last full assessment was conducted 15 years ago, but as Kim pointed out, the city has evolved significantly since then.
“This is a generational project designed to shape the future of our parks,” Kim said. “It will serve as a decision-making framework, guiding how we allocate resources while ensuring inclusivity, accessibility, and transparency.”
OLIN, a nationally recognized landscape architecture and planning firm, is leading the assessment process. Jessica Henson, Partner at OLIN, underscored the importance of community participation in shaping the future of LA’s park system.
“This assessment is an exciting challenge that brings together the diverse communities of Los Angeles,” Henson said. “Parks are an essential part of daily life. They contribute to our health and well-being, provide recreation for children and seniors, and support some of our city’s most disadvantaged communities.”
The PNA team includes experts in various fields, including environmental science, social equity, engineering, and recreation planning. Their goal is to develop a national model for equitable park development that ensures all communities have access to quality green spaces.
“We are evaluating multiple factors, such as social equity, climate resilience, and recreation access,” Henson explained. “Not every neighborhood has the same needs, and we are working closely with council districts and community organizations to understand those unique requirements.”
Throughout 2025, the city will host over 80 public events to engage residents in the assessment process. The PNA team encourages all Angelenos to participate by attending community meetings or filling out surveys available in multiple languages.
“This project is for all of us,” Kim urged. “We want every Angeleno to have a voice in shaping the parks of the future.”
Residents can follow the assessment process and provide input by visiting needs.parks.lacity.gov, where they can access surveys, event schedules, and project updates.
Local community organizations are amplifying their call for increased investment in parks and open spaces in the San Fernando Valley, citing a long-standing deficit compared to other areas in Los Angeles. At a recent forum on park equity, leaders from Pacoima Beautiful and the Prevention Institute emphasized the need for improved green spaces, enhanced amenities, and greater community involvement in decision-making.
“Here at Pacoima Beautiful, we are a community-based organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the eastern San Fernando Valley,” said Roxy Rivas, Deputy Director of Capital Projects and Planning at Pacoima Beautiful. “We focus on creating healthy spaces, green spaces, and advocating for equitable parks—empowering residents and ensuring they are part of the process with us.”
Rivas highlighted ongoing initiatives, including park cleanups, a sidewalk community garden in Pacoima, and advocacy training programs for local residents. She also pointed to efforts in Panorama City, where a group of mothers is actively working to address the lack of accessible parks in their neighborhood.
For nearly 30 years, Pacoima Beautiful has been working to close the gap in park accessibility. However, Rivas noted that many existing parks in the Valley suffer from poor maintenance, lack essential amenities, or have closed-down facilities.
“Compared to other areas in L.A., we have far fewer parks per capita, and many of them lack necessary resources,” she said. “We’ve heard from the community that restrooms are closed, maintenance is deferred, and the quality of these spaces is not where it should be.”
The forum also addressed the significance of the upcoming Park Needs Assessment, which aims to provide comprehensive data on the current state of parks and prioritize future investments.
“This assessment will be a crucial tool to quantify the challenges we already know exist,” Rivas explained. “It will help direct funding to the areas that need it most and ensure that community voices are central in shaping the future of our parks.”
Francisco Romero, Program Manager at the Prevention Institute, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the direct connection between park equity and public health.
“We believe that parks are not a luxury—they are critical infrastructure that supports public health by providing space for physical activity, social connections, and mental well-being,” Romero said. “Parks filter air pollution, buffer noise, cool temperatures, and even help with stormwater management.”
Romero pointed to the role parks played during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as vital outdoor spaces for residents to exercise and relieve stress while also being repurposed for food distribution, medical aid, and vaccination centers.
“Parks are a lifeline,” he stated. “This needs assessment is like a diagnosis—it will allow us to strategically deploy resources for both immediate and long-term improvements.”
Both Rivas and Romero stressed the importance of community engagement in shaping park policies.
“The voices of residents—those who use these parks daily—must be heard,” Romero said. “An equitable approach means ensuring that frontline organizations like Pacoima Beautiful and the people they serve are at the table when decisions are made.”
As the Park Needs Assessment moves forward, advocates are urging local officials to hold meetings in the Northeast Valley and prioritize the needs of historically underserved communities.
“We invite the community to get involved, attend meetings, and advocate for the parks they deserve,” Rivas said. “This is a crucial opportunity to shape the future of our public spaces and improve quality of life for generations to come.”
