Parks and Recreation

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18, 2024 - TimeOut

Close-up of pink cherry blossoms with red Lunar New Year banner.

Parks and Gardens as Spaces to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Parks and gardens serve as communal spaces that bring people together. As such, there are good reasons for them to host events and activities that celebrate Lunar New Year, an important festival deeply rooted in Asian cultures.

February 4, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Bird's eye view of park with green trees, concrete walkways, and benches on lake or riverfront.

Latest Trends in Parks and Recreation

Learn about the top trends impacting parks and recreation, including the use of mobile phone data to track park usage, impacts of climate change, rise of pickleball, a four-day work week, and more.

January 22, 2024 - Parks and Recreation Magazine

Google street view of vacant lot in South Los Angeles in 2022.

Creating a New Park Where It is Most Needed

Los Angeles County just celebrated the grand opening of its newest park. Located in the community of Walnut Park, Nogales Park offers a gathering space and recreational amenities long desired by residents.

December 18, 2023 - UNE News Express

Tall palm trees against bright blue sky with snowy mountains in background. Los Angeles, California.

Winter Fun at Los Angeles County Parks

L.A. County is offering a winter edition of its popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program, providing opportunities for residents to come together and have fun in safe and welcoming spaces.

December 4, 2023 - NBC 4

Puente Hills Landfill as seen from the air

Creating a New Regional Park by Restoring Degraded Lands

Los Angeles County is transforming 142 acres of the Puente Hills Landfill into parkland, creating the first new regional park in the county in over 35 years. The recently released concept plan and renderings show what the park will look like.

October 23, 2023 - Puente Hills Landfill Park

Rendering of Harwood Park in Dallas, Texas.

Downtown Dallas Gets A New Park

What was once parking lots and vacant buildings have been transformed into the four-acre Harwood Park.

October 5, 2023 - The Dallas Express

View of downtown Los Angeles at golden hour from top of grassy hill with wooden bench in Vista Hermosa Natural Park

Downtown Los Angeles Park Wins National Award

Vista Hermosa Natural Park, designed by the landscape architecture firm Studio-MLA, has won the ASLA 2023 Landmark Award. Completed in 2008, Vista Hermosa was the first public park built in downtown L.A. in over 100 years.

September 11, 2023 - ASLA The Dirt

View of purple, orange, and yellow wildflowers on hillside during California superbloom

Celebrating and Protecting Biodiversity

Park and recreation agencies have an important role to play in safeguarding biodiversity. Learn more about how they contribute to the preservation of diverse ecosystems.

September 10, 2023 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Glass-topped conservatory building with bronze statue in foreground at Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden

Community Engagement at L.A. County Parks

The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting over 60 public meetings in September to connect with the public and gather input to inform decision-making and resource allocation.

September 6, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

Blue and green playground equipment in Los Angeles with palm tree and mountains in background

Partnering with Schools to Expand Parks Access

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is partnering with over 560 schools to provide students access to the outdoors, nature education, and recreational programming.

August 29, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

Rendering of people walking on grassy lawn and gravel walkway under 6th Street Bridge in Los Angeles

New Park Breaks Ground Under L.A.’s Sixth Street Viaduct

The park will connect to the Los Angeles River bike path and transit projects coming to the area.

August 8, 2023 - Urbanize LA

Close-up of person holding up phone and looking at their smart watch displaying fitness data

Using Cellphone and Fitness App Data for Park Planning

Data from smartphone apps and fitness trackers are helping planners to better understand park usage patterns and plan for new and improved parks.

July 31, 2023 - Planning Magazine

Group of children running toward the camera on a green lawn

Community-Based Organizations Advancing Park Equity

July is Parks and Recreation Month and CBOs should be recognized for the important role they play in supporting parks and recreation in communities across the U.S.

July 31, 2023 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Playground with yellow shade sails and blue equipment in Los Angeles, California

Community Building Through Park Activation

Los Angeles County's popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program returns for the spring, providing opportunities for residents to come together in safe and welcoming spaces where they can access quality programming and a variety of services.

April 4, 2023 - KTLA5

Dirt walking trail with blue ocean on one side and green hillside on the other in Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Los Angeles County Parks Department Releases Five-Year Strategic Plan

The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation recently completed a strategic plan which details goals, strategies, and actions that reflect the agency's commitment to advancing equity.

March 16, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

Los Angeles, California

Inspirational Leadership: Interview with Los Angeles County Parks Director

In a recent interview with the National Recreation and Park Association, L.A. County Parks Director Norma Edith García-Gonzalez shared about her career and the equity-focused work being carried out by the L.A. County Parks Department.

March 14, 2023 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Echo Park Lake with tall artesian fountain, palm trees and apartment buildings in background.

Reimagining Conservation to Prioritize Vulnerable Communities

Learn more about Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) which focuses on environmental conservation and restoration, regional recreation, and rural recreation.

March 6, 2023 - Parks & Recreation Magazine

Blurred image of people hanging out on green lawn in a park with green trees in background

Advancing Parks and Recreation with Census Data

Census data are used in a variety of ways that impact parks and recreation, including helping to determine where new parks are built and how funds for park projects and recreation programs are distributed.

January 24, 2023 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Girl swinging on rope swing overlooking Los Angeles

Outdoor Destinations for the Carless in Los Angeles

Learn about eight L.A. parks that you can reach from Union Station without a car.

January 23, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

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