Over the last decade, Los Angeles has seen a major decline in green spaces between the city and the county due to construction and environmental problems. The recent wildfires collectively burned over 57,000 acres, making the land brittle and desolate. The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) is answering the call to action to create more parks, green space, climate resilience, and access to nature for the communities that need it most.
“Expanding our green spaces is critical because there are so many communities that are under-resourced and affected by lack of green spaces,” Lindsey P. Horvath, County Supervisor of the Third District, said about the importance of funding green spaces. “Both from an environmental, climate and recreational impact, it is important to invest in our green spaces because it provides everybody the ability to enjoy the outdoors as a family.”
The award of $17 million in Measure A’s competitive grants mark the largest parkland expansion effort in the Regional Park and Open Space District’s 31-year history. 13 projects across every supervisorial district will create 623 acres of new parkland, transforming neighborhoods, restoring natural spaces impacted by wildfire, and ensuring that hundreds of thousands of county residents—along with our environment, wildlife, workforce, and trees—benefit for generations.
“Whether it’s for hundreds of acres of open space or small neighborhood parks, investments by the Regional Park and Open Space District directly serve residents in every part of the county,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “Acquiring this new parkland will help us create a greener, healthier, and more connected Los Angeles County. I’m proud to support this historic funding to bring this incredible resource to our communities, especially during recovery and rebuilding when our residents need spaces for rejuvenation and restoration the most.”
Additionally, the Regional Park and Open Space District announced it will release a special funding opportunity to support fire recovery and climate resiliency efforts. Following the devastating wildfires and windstorms that have impacted Los Angeles County, this upcoming grant opportunity will provide direct funding to support disaster recovery, reforestation, and climate adaptation.
Through the guidance of a steering committee of local leaders and residents, Measure A grant programs were refined to ensure funding reaches the places and people that need it most. To make it easier for under-resourced communities to compete for funding, the Regional Park and Open Space District invested millions in technical assistance in areas with high park needs, helping under-resourced cities and non-profits build strong proposals and secure money to bring more parks to their neighborhoods.
“We are changing lives with this $17 million investment,” said Norma E. García-González, Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and Director of the Regional Park and Open Space District. “In 2016, voters told us that high-need communities should be first in line for park funding, and we took that promise seriously. Through technical assistance, community-driven solutions, and a commitment to equity, we have ensured that the hardest-to-reach places—where families haven’t been able to walk to a park—are finally getting the green space they deserve. “Today, we’re 623 acres greener and will be served for generations to come, improving public health, climate resilience, and access to nature for all. And we’re just going to keep working hard, including another funding opportunity to be released shortly to support fire recovery and climate resilience efforts.”
Awardee Information:
Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy (Altadena) – $1,203,600
City of Artesia – $585,000 (high need area)
City of Baldwin Park – $2,000,000 (very high need area)
City of Carson – $1,430,000 (high need area)
City of Covina – $840,146
Coyotl + Machedualli (Elephant Hill) – $1,003,900
City of Los Angeles (Sylmar) – $2,000,000 (high need area)
LA County Department of Parks and Recreation (Walnut Park) – $2,000,000 (very high need area)
Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (South Central Los Angeles) – $770,000 (very high need area)
Mountains Restoration Trust (Malibu) – $1,075,000
North East Trees, Inc – $508,012
City of Palmdale – $2,000,000
City of Santa Clarita – $1,437,195