The report contains data and analyses in support of expanding land conservation and restoration, transit to parks, and other strategies to meet regional and rural needs in Los Angeles County.
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has just released the draft 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) report (formerly called the Regional and Rural Edition), which is a focused update of the 2016 Los Angeles Countywide Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment (PNA). The 2016 PNA was a historic undertaking to engage all of Los Angeles County in a collaborative process to identify and quantify the magnitude of the need for parks in cities and unincorporated communities and determine the potential cost of meeting that need. Since its completion, the PNA has been invaluable in informing planning, decision-making, and resource allocation for parks and recreation.
The 2022 PNA+ complements and offers new information not previously available in the 2016 PNA, including data and analyses related to regional recreation, rural recreation, population vulnerability, environmental conservation, and environmental restoration. DPR developed PNA+ in response to a 2019 motion by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors which called for the development of a needs assessment to address regional recreation, beaches, rural areas, and open space. In this article, park planner Clement Lau summarizes the key findings of the PNA+ study and highlights some of the draft recommendations.
PNA+ is a project funded by the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD). Since its inception in 1992, RPOSD has awarded over $1.5 billion in grants to cities, County departments, state and local agencies and community-based organizations for projects to improve and rehabilitate parks, recreational facilities, trails, and open space lands.
FULL STORY: Data-Driven Effort to Advance Park Equity Expands
Reimagining Conservation to Prioritize Vulnerable Communities
Learn more about Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) which focuses on environmental conservation and restoration, regional recreation, and rural recreation.
A Greener LA County: 623 Acres of New Parkland for Communities
Los Angeles County is investing $17 million to create 623 acres of new parks and open spaces, expanding access to nature, advancing equity, and enhancing community health and well-being.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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