LA County Parks Celebrates 80 Years with Free Summer Programs

The department has launched the ‘Let’s Play Outside’ campaign as part of its celebration of eight decades of fostering connections between LA County residents and the great outdoors.

1 minute read

June 30, 2024, 9:00 AM PDT

By Clement Lau


Two young women hiking at golden hour.

Chris / Adobe Stock

The County of Los Angeles has launched the “Let’s Play Outside” campaign in celebration of 80 years of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The initiative includes free programming throughout July, offering children diverse activities such as playing outdoors, exploring nature, and swimming. County Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis introduced the campaign along with the “Outdoor Children’s Bill of Rights,” which outlines ten activities children can enjoy at county facilities.

The campaign aims to ensure that all children, regardless of background or location, have access to nature and recreational opportunities. A few of the activities listed in the “Outdoor Children’s Bill of Rights” are fishing, camping, biking, boating, and planting seeds. DPR manages numerous facilities and programs, emphasizing the importance of outdoor spaces for community well-being and child development.

In addition to regular programming, DPR has partnered with organizations like Rancho Los Amigos and Special Olympics to offer free adaptive sports and bike riding classes. To mark its 80th anniversary, DPR also curated a virtual exhibit featuring historic photos of playgrounds and park development over the decades. The department's director, Norma E. García-González, highlighted its ongoing mission and efforts to connect the community with nature and preserve culturally and ecologically significant sites.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in MyNewsLA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Streetcar and bus stopped at station on Market Street in San Francisco with Ferry Building visible in background.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street

If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

April 16 - San Francisco Examiner

Parklet with wooden benches and flower boxes on street in Ireland.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces

Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

April 16 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Bronze statue of homeless man (Jesus) with head down and arm outstretched in front of St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington D.C.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.

April 16 - The New York Times