February 18, 2025
The new project initiative launches with a new website and survey City launches website and survey to gather community input on park needs through and announces the development of a Park Needs Assessment
LOS ANGELES – The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks is undertaking a Park Needs Assessment to evaluate the nearly 16,000 acres of public parkland and amenities in the City. As critical infrastructure in our communities, parks are a foundational part of life in Los Angeles.
The Park Needs Assessment process was commissioned by the Department of Recreation and Parks to identify the current needs, challenges, and opportunities for improvement across the Department’s vast network of parks and recreational facilities. It will guide future investment in park infrastructure and amenities that is reflective of the diverse communities across the City and its projected population growth.
The Park Needs Assessment will include four phases and the public is encouraged to engage at each step of the process. The first phase will help the Department of Recreation and Parks to understand the public’s knowledge of the park system and gather feedback on its overall performance.
Community meetings to launch the project will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday, March 4, 2025: Ramona Hall (CD1) from 6-8pm
Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Wilmington RC (CD15) from 6-8pm
Thursday, March 6, 2025: Algin Sutton RC (CD8) from 6-8pm
Saturday, March 8, 2025: Victory Vineland RC (CD2) from 10am-12pm
Tuesday, March 11 2025: Tarzana Child Care Building (CD3) from 6-8pm
Thursday, March 13, 2025: Westchester RC (CD11) from 6-8pm
Saturday, March 15, 2025: Lincoln Park SCC (CD14) from 10am-12pm
Tuesday, March 18, 2025: Virtual, from 6pm-8pm
“Assessing park needs and community priorities is foundational to maintaining a world-class park system for both Los Angeles residents and visitors,” said Jimmy Kim, General Manager, Department of Recreation and Parks. “The team is looking forward to engaging with community members across the City this year and developing an innovative and equitable assessment that will guide the department's future efforts.”
Importance of the Park Needs Assessment
"This park needs assessment will be the best in its class," said Jon Christensen, a UCLA professor who has studied park needs assessments around the country and is serving as a consultant in the process. "It will set the stage for improving and expanding our park system across the city, prioritizing areas of highest need, and focusing park funding to achieve visible, tangible results for the residents of Los Angeles."
“We are honored to support the City of Los Angeles in the development of a robust park needs assessment that will serve the residents of LA for decades to come,” said Jessica Henson, the project’s Consultant Lead from OLIN. She continued, “Parks are critical for our communities, providing not only places to recreate and rest but also places where people come together to learn, create, and celebrate.”
Community Engagement Process
The Park Needs Assessment process will include numerous opportunities for the community to share ideas and feedback through a variety of engagement methods, such as in-person and virtual community meetings, pop-up events, partnerships with community-based organizations, equity-focused events, key group meetings, surveys, and a project website. With a focus on equitable, innovative, and creative community engagement, the process aims to ensure that all Angelenos' voices are heard and valued, using both in-person and digital tools to encourage active participation. The feedback gathered throughout this process will help inform future decisions related to park improvements, funding, and new development.
Survey
The team will be conducting a statistically valid survey to help ensure input from a representative cross-section of Los Angeles residents. Surveys can be completed online, at parks across the city, and also in-person at an upcoming March engagement meeting. The survey allows people who do not have time to attend in-person events to share their ideas and experiences about the park system. Go to the project website to take the survey and/or share with your family, friends and neighbors at needs.parks.lacity.gov.
Next Steps
Spring/Summer 2025: Community outreach will focus on understanding and refining public priorities for existing park amenities.
Fall 2025: Draft Park Needs Assessment for Public Review
Winter 2025-2026: Anticipated Completion of Park Needs Assessment
PROJECT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE CITY OF LA DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS
The Department of Recreation and Parks operates over 550 park sites and 92 miles of trails that cover over 16,000 acres of land in Los Angeles.
The park system includes some of the world’s most iconic parks such as Griffith Park, Sepulveda Basin, Echo Park, and MacArthur Park, as well as hundreds of community and neighborhood parks, Venice Beach, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and 12 museums.
PROJECT TEAM
The project is being led by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. A Technical Advisory Committee, a Steering Committee, City of LA elected offices and staff, government departments, and organizations will provide guidance to the project team.
Through a competitive “request for proposal” process, the City selected OLIN and their team that includes their subconsultants Kounkuey Design Initiative, Agency: Artifact, The Robert Group, Estolano Advisors, Geosyntec Consultants, GreenInfo Network, HR&A, Better World Group, Dharam Consulting, Calvada, LANDAU Design + Technology, ETC Institute, and West of West Architecture, and was approved by a unanimous vote of the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners in December 2024.
For more information, and to stay updated on community events and engagement opportunities, please visit our project website at needs.parks.lacity.gov.