Los Angeles County Launches New Power of Play Initiative

Access to recreation and other programming is critical for the health and well-being of youth, especially in underserved communities. To address this need, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Los Angeles County Parks Foundation (LACPF) are launching the Power of Play, a joint initiative that builds awareness, support, and a safety net to provide vulnerable youth and families access to high-quality programming.

Through this partnership, DPR and LACPF are providing equitable access for all County youth by eliminating cost barriers to programming to ensure inclusion for all, regardless of socio-economic status. Emphasizing heavily on equitable play and learning programs for youth, the Power of Play initiative provides youth in vulnerable communities with access to high quality out-of-school recreation experiences including a variety of Sports, ESTEAM (Engineering, Science, Technology, Environment, Art and Mathematics) Summer Camps and after-school programs.

“Too many children growing up in Los Angeles County, but specifically youth of color, are going through childhood with disproportionate access to play, sports and out of school programming,” said Norma E. García-González, Director of DPR. “The LACPF will serve as the fundraising arm to bridge the gap in affordability and access by providing scholarships directly to vulnerable youth to participate in sports and after-school/summer camp programming.”