'50 Parks' Program Improves Los Angeles' Parks Disparity

Josh Stephens reports on the progress of the 50 Parks Initiative, the work of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to "promote the development of 50 parks in underserved areas of the city."

According to the article, "[t]he initiative is now more than halfway to its goal. According to program director Darryl Ford, 31 parks have been completed, six are under construction and 17 more sites have been identified, for a total of 54."

The program dates back to 2012, when the department "acknowledged…it would be nearly impossible to build large parks in a dense, built-out city. Instead, they focused on small, neighborhood parks — sometimes called 'pocket parks,' though some of the initiative’s backers dismiss that term — that could be wedged into small and irregular spaces."

Stephens also includes more detail on the local partners that have helped the department in working toward its goals as well as the features of the parks that have been built so far.