In Los Angeles and beyond, landfills and gas stations are the new public spaces

Finding land for new parks is increasingly difficult in dense, built out regions like Los Angeles County, where available space is scarce and costly even as the need for recreation, cooling, and community gathering continues to grow. Climate change and longstanding inequities in access to green space have made this challenge more urgent. In response, the focus is shifting from seeking vacant land to rethinking how existing, often overlooked or underutilized sites can be transformed into meaningful public spaces, I wrote about recently on Open Space, the official blog of the National Recreation and Park Association.  

A wide range of land types present opportunities for this transformation. Former landfills, airports, oil extraction sites, and gas stations — once seen as liabilities — can be reclaimed through remediation and thoughtful planning to serve community needs. Large-scale examples like the Puente Hills Landfill and the planned conversion of Santa Monica Airport highlight the potential for significant park development, while smaller sites such as former gas stations can collectively provide impactful neighborhood-level green space. Flood control channels and utility corridors are also being reimagined as multi-benefit greenways, supporting recreation, habitat, and mobility.

At the same time, everyday public spaces such as streets and sidewalks offer immediate opportunities to expand greenery through tree planting and depaving efforts. Initiatives like the County's Community Forest Management Plan and Urban Natureways demonstrate how coordinated, long-term strategies can integrate green space into the urban fabric. Ultimately, this evolving approach reflects a broader shift in how land is valued — recognizing that even highly developed environments contain opportunities to restore land, expand access to nature, improve public health, and build more resilient and equitable communities.

Read the full piece, below.