Los Angeles

Nighttime view of wildfire in Los Angeles hills.

Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards

A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.

April 17, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Macarthur Park lake with downtown Los Angeles skyline in background.

LA County Receives Reconnecting Communities Grants

Seven grant awards totaling $162 million will be used for planning, capital projects, and regional partnerships to reduce environmental harm and improve access in disadvantaged communities.

April 16, 2024 - Streetblog LA

London 2012 Olympic Games

Los Angeles Receives $900M for Infrastructure Ahead of 2028 Olympics

The influx of federal dollars comes as LA has just four more years to complete ambitious transit improvement plans before it is due to host the Summer Olympic Games.

April 10, 2024 - Transportation Today News

Two large California live oaks in a field of dry grass.

California’s Live Oaks in Focus

The new exhibit explores the hidden network that allows heritage coast live oak trees to communicate with one another.

April 4, 2024 - Outlook Valley Sun

Amtrak train passing over tall trestle bridge on California coast at Gaviota Beach.

LA-to-San Francisco Night Train Closer to Reality

A train operator has entered into formal negotiations with Union Pacific to move the project forward with a projected launch date of 2025.

March 27, 2024 - SFGate

Major League Baseball Stadium

Lawsuit Aims to Stop Dodger Stadium Gondola

A proposed aerial tram project that would shuttle visitors to L.A.’s Dodger Stadium faces backlash from environmental and community groups.

March 27, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Mature jacaranda trees full of purple blooms on street in Los Angeles, California.

Expanding LA's Urban Forest

The County of Los Angeles Chief Sustainability Office is leading the effort to prepare the county's first Urban Forest Management Plan.

March 19, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18, 2024 - TimeOut

View of downtown Los Angeles from a green park

LA County Makes Progress Toward Sustainability Goals

A newly released annual report by the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) shows that Los Angeles County is making progress on meeting the goals of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.

March 17, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Intersection in downtown Los Angeles with pedestrians crossing, vintage building across street, and modern glass office tower in background.

LA Zoning Reforms Could Yield Up to 250,000 New Homes

A draft plan would speed up permitting for residential projects with an affordability component and make more buildings eligible for adaptive reuse.

March 14, 2024 - The Center Square

Close-up of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum entrance arch with title and Olympic rings.

Feds Award LA Region $900 Million for Transportation Projects

The funding will support efforts to make improvements to transit and pedestrian infrastructure ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

March 13, 2024 - KTLA

One cyclist on yellow bike crossing vintage concrete bridge in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Los Angeles Approves Road Safety Measure

Voters expressed strong support for road safety improvements.

March 8, 2024 - Streetsblog LA

Person-height red 'Wilmington Waterfront Promenade' sign on concrete walkway with palm trees in background on waterfront walkway at the Port of Los Angeles, California.

New Waterfront Park Opens at the Port of Los Angeles

The $77.3 million new park offers unprecedented public access to the water’s edge for the Wilmington community where 18% of the total land area is taken up by oil refineries — almost 3.5 times more space than is dedicated to green space.

March 5, 2024 - The Architect's Newspaper

View of 110 freeway with downtown Los Angeles buildings in background.

LA Freeway Ramp ‘Quietly Canceled’

A 2018 lawsuit forced Metro and Caltrans to do full environmental reviews of the project, leading to its cancellation.

February 29, 2024 - Streetsblog LA

Overhead view of young children looking at plants growing in raised planter box.

Creating More Green Schoolyards in Los Angeles

Led by the Trust for Public Land, the “28×28” Initiative seeks to green 28 schools in Los Angeles by the 2028 Olympics.

February 27, 2024 - Spectrum News 1

Watts Towers, Los Angeles.

Representing Watts

Not only is JuJu Watkins restoring glory back to USC Women's Basketball, she is also proudly representing Watts where she grew up and where her family has deep roots.

February 26, 2024 - Sports Illustrated

View from shore of Sepulveda Basin water catchment basin with marsh plants along shore.

LA’s ‘Spongy’ Infrastructure Captured Almost 9 Billion Gallons of Water

The city is turning away from stormwater management practices that shuttle water to the ocean, building infrastructure that collects and directs it underground instead.

February 25, 2024 - Wired

View of downtown Los Angeles from elevated hillside with palm trees in foreground and pink sky.

Planning for Trees in Los Angeles

The County and City of Los Angeles are working together on community engagement efforts for their Urban Forest Management Plans (UFMPs).

February 21, 2024 - LAist

Close-up shot of Hollywood Blvd street sign and pedestrian crossing signal with red 'Don't walk' hand lit.

Billboard Highlights LA’s Pedestrian Safety Crisis

According to road safety advocates, more pedestrians died on one Los Angeles street than in the entire state of Vermont in 2022.

February 19, 2024 - Business Insider

Bird's eye view of green painted bike lane with one cyclist.

LA’s Mobility Plan Implementation Faces Opposition

The city’s firefighters’ union claims that bike and bus lanes would slow response times and impede access for first responders.

February 16, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.