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The SAFE, CLEAN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS MEASURE OF 2016 is officially on the November ballot. We know there are plenty of questions about the ballot measure – how it will be administered, how will funds be raised and distributed, and what exactly will the funds be used for? The Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks Measure will provide stable local funding for our parks and open spaces – including beaches and cultural institutions throughout Los Angeles County.  Funding from the measure will: Repair and upgrade neighborhood parks Help keep kids out of trouble and reduce gang violence Conserve water Protect our remaining open spaces The full text of the ballot measure can be found here. In the interest of being completely transparent, there are also polling results available on our website (click here). The final expenditure plan is available here. You can stay up to date with all of the latest news about the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks Measure by following us on social media.  We’ll also be posting updates regularly on our website – RPOSD.lacounty.gov.

After hearing from hundreds of concerned citizens, activists and business leaders, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to place the “Safe Clean Neighborhood Parks, Open Space, Beaches, Rivers Protection and Water Conservation” measure on the November 2016 ballot.

This action followed the completion of the Countywide Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment, which identified the challenges facing LA County’s parks and open spaces.  The funding will go towards grants to local communities for park improvements, maintenance, development of new recreational facilities and safety programs.  This will also include beaches and river protection and water conservation efforts, as well as funding for cultural institutions throughout Los Angeles.  

The Executive Summary (in both Spanish and English), the final report, and interactive maps and data can be found here http://lacountyparkneeds.org.

Continue reading “Safe Clean Neighborhood Parks Initiative will be on LA’s November ballot” →

Our campaign to bring awareness about the importance of parks and open space  is reaching cities all across LA County.  Here are a few articles covering others throughs on  parks and the possible parks and open space ballot measure:  here are some of what others are saying about this issue: Daily Breeze —  LA County funding boost would let more kids enjoy local parks San Gabriel Valley Tribune —  Need for LA County park funds hits home in El Monte Press Telegram —  LA County needs a wave of new funding to protect its beaches CBS 2, Los Angeles —  Report: Fewer Parks Lead to Worse Health In L.A. County   ***  BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UPDATE *** On Tuesday, July 5th, the County Board of Supervisors will consider a local ballot measure for a dedicated funding source for parks. The meeting will begin at 1 PM at the Board’s Hearing Room (500 West Temple Street, Room 381B, Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in Los Angeles). If you cannot attend the meeting, we urge you to write to the Board of Supervisors and share yourthoughts on funding to protect and preserve our parks, open spaces, beaches and cultural centers.  Contact info for the Board members can be found here.  Hope to see you there!

Did You Know? 

Protecting Our Parks and Open Spaces Also Means Protecting Local Funding for LA’s Cultural Resources, including Zoos and Museums

A proposed local ballot initiative you may have been hearing about is actually about a lot more than just local parks.

LA County voters approved Prop A in 1992 and again in 1996 – and that led to the creation of the Regional Park and Open Space District and provided a local, dedicated funding source for parks and other vital community resources – including significant funding for many of the LA area’s most important museums, zoos and other cultural resources.

As the local funding source under Prop A expires, LA County is considering a potential 2016 ballot measure to renew local, dedicated funding for our parks, open spaces and cultural facilities across Los Angeles.

Cultural facilities – those facilities that help shape our lives and make Los Angeles so unique – will continue to benefit as part of this effort.  These regional resources, including museums, arboreta, aquariums and zoos, are important elements of a comprehensive, countywide park and recreation strategy.

Continue reading “Protecting the Places that Make Los Angeles Special” →

LA County funding boost would let more kids enjoy local parks: Guest commentary

By Viviana Franco – Daily Breeze

 When I was growing up in Hawthorne, there was a spot along the 105 Freeway we called “the dirt field.” The freeway cut off access to the few parks we had in our neighborhood, so my friends and I just hung out in the dirt field — nothing more than a tiny dirt vacant lot. It was our ballfield, our playground and our place to just be kids. I cherish the memories of this “pretend park.”

In the years since, I have formed a non-profit, From Lot to Spot, to help create access for the thousands of residents cut off from green, leafy parks, community gardens, bike paths and all types of greenspaces.

 Yosemite and Kings Canyon are beautiful national landmarks, and I recognize their grandeur. However, our best parks, the ones we remember when we get older, are the ones we frequented next to our homes, in our neighborhoods — the ones that were part of our daily lives. 

If you’re lucky enough to live near one, you understand how important parks become to our collective well-being. Neighborhood parks have been known to improve psychological as well as physical health. They empower our communities, help alleviate climate change impacts and make our neighborhoods more attractive.

Full article here: https://bitly.com/

More parks for LA County would be worth the cost: Guest commentary

By Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis, Los Angeles Daily News

Everybody loves a park. Parks are great for the environment, great for communities and great for public health. Trees absorb ozone, provide cooling shade and reduce water run-off. Parks are also important gauges of the overall quality of life in our neighborhoods. Communities with vibrant, well-used parks tend to be stronger, places where neighbors know and care about each other and families thrive.

But parks are more than just nice places to enjoy the golden Southern California sunshine. A growing body of evidence suggests that parks in urban areas help extend our lives as well. Studies show that when people have access to parks, they exercise more, which is vital given the epidemic of obesity plaguing our communities. That’s why the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has called for the creation of more parks and playgrounds to combat this epidemic.

Full article here: http://bit.ly/28OC2Es

Need for LA County park funds hits home in El Monte: Guest commentary

By Andre Quintero – San Gabriel Valley Tribune, June 20, 2016

It should come as no surprise to the people of El Monte that our city was ranked among the worst in Los Angeles County when it comes to the availability of parks. A recent needs assessment by the county found that only 42 percent of our residents live within a half-mile of a park, well below the county average. And the parks that are available lack some of the most basic recreational equipment.

 By any measure, El Monte is park-poor. But another recent study, this one by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, provided even more disturbing news — cities like ours with less park space per capita than average have higher rates of premature death from cardiovascular disease and diabetes, a higher prevalence of childhood obesity and greater economic hardship compared to cities with more park space per capita.

 Full article here: http://bit.ly/28LlI2Y

Have you seen our #WeAllNeeParks billboards?  You can find them throughout LA County bringing awareness about the importance of  our parks.

After many months of study and hundreds of hours of community input, we presented our comprehensive Needs Assessment Report to the LA County Board of Supervisors.

Some key findings:

51% of County residents don’t live within a 10-minute walk (1/2 a mile) of a park

Parks create safer and healthier communities, offering places for people to gather, exercise, relax and breathe fresh air.  Without access to parks and open spaces, our neighborhoods feel less connected and our citizens have become more vulnerable to diseases and negative health outcomes related to a sedentary lifestyle.

Continue reading “Our Parks Need Us!” →

We all need fresh air, clean and safe water, a place to get away and enjoy nature – either alone or with our friends and family.

We’re pleased to share our first video highlighting what parks and open spaces bring to our communities.

http://https://youtu.be/hjNfXDukpfQ

Continue reading ““We All Need Parks” isn’t just our slogan. It’s a fact.” →

Last week we presented the results of our Countywide Needs Assessment, the result of 14 months of study and hundreds of hours of community input. 

What we learned —  nearly every community in the County has some kind of important park need, whether it’s a new park, upgrades to existing parks, playgrounds, ball fields, recreation centers or senior centers, open space, trails, or beach improvements. 

We listened.  We heard you.  And we’re ready to address these vital needs that will strengthen the health and well-being of our citizens. 

FOLLOWING OUR PRESENTATION, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO  HEAR A PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING OF COUNTY PARKS AND OPEN SPACE NEEDS AT THEIR JUNE 21^ST MEETING.

To gather more community feedback, a series of events will be held throughout the county in the month of May.  Schedule of upcoming meetings:

Continue reading “Next Steps for More Parks and Open Space in LA” →

Representatives from the LA Regional Parks and Open Space District and other community leaders held an Earth Day briefing to discuss the results of a comprehensive parks and recreation needs assessment. The assessment gathered input from 5,000 LA County residents.

‘People of color have the “highest rates of obesity and high blood pressure,” said Andrew Yip, a representative of the Los Angeles-based Asian American Environmental Leadership Academy. “You can’t expect low-income people to drive to national parks. We need to bring parks to them…This is an environmental justice issue.” ‘

Full Article:  http://newamericamedia.org/2016/04/la-community-groups-parks-are-an-environmental-justice-issue.php

111^th Place Park  which opened a couple of weeks ago in South LA is a great example of the contributions of parks in communities in need of green space.

“This is an amazing thing. It just shows you how you can take something that was a problem and turn it into a solution. This is a beautiful facility, a parcel that you wouldn’t think you could build a park so beautiful here,” said Harris-Dawson.

Full Article: https://lasentinel.net/blighted-property-transformed-into-colorful-111th-place-park.html

Follow #WeAllNeedParks and stay updated with the latest on parks in LA County.  Learn about what our parks do for LA County, and what they need from us. You can also support by encouraging your friends to follow #WeAllNeedParks.

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