Green Spaces for All: Advancing Park Equity in Los Angeles County

Green space, park access, and trees

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Los Angeles County faces severe park inequity, ranking among the worst for park availability, access, investment (dollars spent per capita), and amenities. This disproportionately affects low-income communities of color, with a 2016 study revealing that 90% of high park-need areas were predominantly populated by people of color.
The lack of green spaces directly correlates with poor health outcomes. For instance, residents of Beverly Hills live 12 years longer on average than those in Watts, with lower rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Access to green spaces is linked to numerous health benefits, including reduced blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and stress. It's also associated with improved air and water quality.
Research shows that children living within two-thirds of a mile from a park are up to 500% more likely to maintain a healthy weight. Moreover, exposure to nature can reduce stress levels by almost 33%.

Our "Green Spaces for All" initiative addresses park inequity in Los Angeles County through a community-driven approach. The grant will support four key pillars:
Community Engagement: We'll expand our participatory planning process, engaging residents in underserved areas to identify and co-design parks that reflect local needs and cultural preferences.
Park Development: We'll continue to work on planning and designing new pocket parks in historically under-resourced areas and enhance existing parks in at least 5 underserved neighborhoods, upgrading equipment, lighting, and accessibility.
Stewardship Program: We local residents to become park stewards, managing and maintaining 15 park and garden projects, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Free Programming: We'll offer diverse activities to promote community well-being, including health classes, environmental education, gardening workshops, art events, youth leadership initiatives, and public safety planning.
Additionally, we'll provide training on vacant lot transformation, empowering communities to convert neglected spaces into green areas.
This holistic approach builds community capacity, promotes healthy lifestyles, and fosters social cohesion. By involving residents from planning to maintenance, we ensure these parks become true community hubs that address local needs and promote equity.

Our vision is a Los Angeles County where every resident has access to vibrant green spaces within walking distance, regardless of income or location. This transformation will create healthier, safer, and more connected communities.
Our work aims to:
Improve health by reducing obesity and stress-related illnesses
Advance environmental justice through improved air quality and biodiversity
Empower communities via resident-led park design and stewardship
Build social cohesion by creating inclusive community hubs
Stimulate economic growth in revitalized neighborhoods
Enhance climate resilience with improved green infrastructure
Boost food security through community gardens
Long-term, we'll scale this model countywide, creating a network of community-managed green spaces. This will form the foundation of a more equitable, sustainable Los Angeles, serving as a blueprint for urban renewal nationwide and demonstrating how prioritizing green equity can improve community health.

We will measure success using the following:
1. Program Impact: - Attendance at free park/garden programs - Participant satisfaction and feedback
2. Park Quality: - Regular assessments with maintenance vendors - Issue resolution time - Coordination with Park Stewards
3. Community Garden Engagement: - Plot occupancy rates - Gardener satisfaction (via monthly meetings)
4. Stewardship Development: - Number of trainings provided (e.g., conflict resolution, sustainable landscaping) - Post-training feedback
5. New Green Space Creation: - Completion of two community-designed park projects with sustainability features and art elements - Initiation of planning for two additional green spaces in under-resourced areas
6. Community Involvement: - Resident participation in design processes - Volunteer hours contributed
7. Environmental Impact: - Increase in local biodiversity - Reduction in urban heat island effect (measured in target areas)