Designing New Parks for Los Angeles

One of the most park-poor major cities in the U.S., Los Angeles is in the midst of a slight park renaissance, with a few new major projects in the works. A new exhibition looks at the state of new parks design in L.A.

1 minute read

June 14, 2011, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Eight decades later, at 6.2 acres of park per thousand residents, the city of Los Angeles ranked in the bottom third for urban park capacity among densely populated cities in a 2010 Trust for Public Land survey.

Still, Angelenos dream green. The exhibit "New Park Design in Los Angeles," which opened last week at the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design, is the work of landscape architect Stephen Billings.

An associate of the Santa Monica firm Pamela Burton & Co. Landscape Architecture, Billings is working with the Neighborhood Land Trust and Los Angeles Unified School District on a garden project at Fremont High School. But it was also personal frustration that drove him to organize the exhibit. 'The open space nearest to where I live is the roof of my building,' he said. 'It has no railings.'"

The exhibit looks at project sunder construction, in the process of approvals, and those that are little more than hopeful possibilities for the city.

Friday, June 10, 2011 in Los Angeles Times

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

MARTA train tracks run in the middle of a six lane highway with an overpass and the Buckhead city skyline of skyscrapers in the background.

How Would Project 2025 Affect America’s Transportation System?

Long story short, it would — and not in a good way.

September 29, 2024 - Marcelo Remond

Aerial view of low-rise neighborhood in Los Angeles, California.

California Law Ends Road Widening Mandates

Housing developers will no longer be required to dedicate land to roadway widening, which could significantly reduce the cost of construction and support more housing units.

September 25, 2024 - Streetsblog California

People in large plaza in front of Zurich Opera House in Switzerland.

But... Europe

European cities and nations tend to have less violent crime than the United States. Is government social welfare spending the magic bullet that explains this difference?

September 26, 2024 - Michael Lewyn

Desert tortoise on asphalt road.

California Room to Roam Act Prioritizes Wildlife Connectivity

A new state law requires new development and infrastructure to minimize disruption to local wildlife habitats and migration patterns.

October 4 - Center for Biological Diversity

Victorian Flavel House mansion in Astoria, Oregon.

Oregon Releases Historic Preservation Plan for Next Decade

A plan from the state’s State Historic Preservation Commission outlines priorities for preserving Oregon’s cultural and historic resources.

October 4 - KTVZ

Rendering of Interstate 35 cap park over sunken freeway in Austin, Texas.

Austin’s Vision for I-35 Cap Parks Takes Final Shape

The city’s plan includes parks, entertainment pavilions, commercial space, sports fields, and other facilities over 30 acres of deck parks spanning a sunken Interstate 35.

October 4 - KUT

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research

Regional Rail at Mpact Transit + Community 2024

Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)

Cornell's Department of City and Regional Planning Announces Undergraduate and Graduate Program Information Sessions and Application Details

Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)