Data and partnerships have supported the recent development and improvement of sports facilities in underserved communities in Los Angeles County.
Park planning has become increasingly data-driven in recent years. For instance, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) collects and analyzes a high volume and variety of data to prepare major plans and studies, with key examples including the 2016 Parks Needs Assessment (PNA), Community Parks and Recreation Plans (CPRP) for the most park-poor communities, and the 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+).
Building on the data collected from the PNA, DPR has completed further analyses to identify areas of the county with the greatest need for sports facilities for youth, including baseball fields, basketball courts, and soccer fields. Not only do the results of such analyses guide DPR’s work, but they have also helped cities and other organizations to more objectively decide where to invest in developing sports facilities.
In the source article, park planner Clement Lau explains how data and partnerships have supported the recent development and improvement of facilities in underserved communities for three of the most popular sports among youth in L.A. County: baseball, basketball, and soccer.
Read the full story: Calculating Demand: Using data and partnerships to determine sports-field placement
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