A Walk in the Park

Creating more open space in greater L.A. is a challenge. But we’re up for it.

Compared to other major U.S. cities, greater Los Angeles lags in providing park space for its residents. L.A. ranks 88th on the list of the top 100 metropolises for park acreage, access, equity, investment and amenities, according to The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore Index. The region has made strides in recent years through initiatives like the Countywide Parks Needs Assessments, Measure A, and strategic investments in new parks and green infrastructure. About five out of 10 L.A. County residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. But significant needs remain, especially in urban areas with limited available land. Here Clement Lau, a policy analyst with the Chief Sustainability Office, examines what can be done to create more parks and open space in the County.

Why are parks and open space so important? What are some of the less obvious benefits?

Parks and open spaces are fundamental to a world-class city, serving as essential infrastructure for public health, climate resilience, and social equity. Beyond recreation, they provide critical benefits such as cooling urban heat islands, improving air and water quality and supporting biodiversity. Less obvious but equally vital, parks contribute to physical and mental health, community cohesion and economic vitality by creating both short- and long-term jobs and attracting businesses.

What does the term “multi-benefit” park mean? How does it tie into broader sustainability goals?

A multi-benefit park is a space designed to provide numerous community and environmental advantages beyond recreation. These parks integrate elements such as stormwater capture, carbon sequestration, habitat restoration and cooling. A great example is Willowbrook’s Earvin “Magic” Johnson Recreation Area, which was recently transformed into a 104-acre state-of-the-art park with sustainable features, including wetlands for stormwater treatment, native landscaping to support biodiversity, and expanded green space to mitigate urban heat. By serving various functions, multi-benefit parks align with broader sustainability goals such as climate adaptation, environmental justice and water resilience.

What are some of the unique challenges of securing/designing these spaces in greater L.A.?

The biggest hurdles to expanding parks in greater L.A. include land scarcity, high real estate costs, and environmental contamination on available sites, including brownfields which are previously developed lands that may be polluted by hazardous substances, heavy metals, or petroleum from former uses. Remediating these sites for park use requires extensive testing, cleanup and regulatory approvals, which can be costly and time-consuming. Additionally, disparities in park distribution mean that communities most in need of green space often face the greatest barriers to new development, including limited public funding, complex land acquisition processes, and competing development pressures that may prioritize other community needs over parks. Designing parks to be inclusive, climate-resilient and financially sustainable further complicates the process.

How are designers re-thinking shared open public space? What makes a cutting-edge park?

The future of parks lies in innovative, flexible, and community-driven designs. The next wave of open spaces prioritizes equity, resilience, and multi-functionality. Examples include reuse of industrial or underutilized spaces, such as landfills, rail and utility corridors and rights-of-way, and integrating smart technology for resource efficiency, such as sensor-based irrigation systems that adjust water usage based on real-time weather data and solar-powered lighting that reduces energy consumption.  You can already see some of these elements at parks operated by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). Examples include recently completed parks like Nogales Park, San Gabriel River Park, and Wishing Tree Park. Designers are rethinking open space by prioritizing accessibility, climate adaptation, and shared public uses, ensuring that parks serve diverse and growing needs. An exciting project on the horizon is the Puente Hills Regional Park, which involves the transformation of a former landfill into the county’s first new regional park in over 30 years.

What should be done to increase parks and other open space in our region?

To increase parks and open space, a multi-pronged approach is needed, including strategic land acquisitions, leveraging of public-private partnerships, and policy reforms, such as dedicated funding mechanisms to operate and maintain parks and streamlined land conversion and remediation policies. Remediating and repurposing brownfields, enhancing schoolyards as shared community spaces, and implementing green infrastructure projects can maximize available land. Increased and dedicated funding, strong community engagement and equity-centered planning are crucial to ensuring that future investments benefit those with the greatest need.

How is the Chief Sustainability Office working to advance these goals?

The Chief Sustainability Office is helping to advance park and open space goals through the OurCounty Sustainability Plan, which prioritizes tree canopy expansion, equitable park access, and green infrastructure. You can read more about these open-space efforts here. The CSO is working on and supporting initiatives like community forestry, water resilience planning, and brownfield remediation and reuse, all of which contribute to a more sustainable and livable L.A. By integrating parks into broader sustainability strategies and collaborating with DPR and other partners, the CSO helps ensure that green space contributes to a healthier, more livable, and more equitable community for all.