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.

2 minute read

February 26, 2025, 9:00 AM PST

By Clement Lau


Red tailed hawk in flight with scrubland hills and trees in background in San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center, California.

A red tailed hawk in flight at the San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center in San Dimas, California. | Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation / San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center

Los Angeles County has made a historic investment in expanding parkland, allocating $17 million from Measure A competitive grants to create 623 acres of new parks and open spaces. This marks the largest parkland expansion effort in the 31-year history of the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD). The funding will support 13 projects across all five Supervisorial Districts of the county, ensuring that communities most in need—particularly those with limited access to green spaces—benefit from this transformative initiative. In addition to enhancing recreational opportunities, these investments will contribute to climate resilience, and improved public health, reinforcing the County’s commitment to equity and environmental justice.

This achievement builds on the success of Measure A, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2016 to provide permanent funding for parks and open spaces. The RPOSD has taken a community-driven approach, providing technical assistance to under-resourced communities and ensuring that funding reaches the areas with the greatest need. This latest investment demonstrates the effectiveness of that strategy, with projects ranging from small urban parks to large-scale conservation efforts. To further advance these goals, the RPOSD has also announced an upcoming grant opportunity focused on wildfire recovery and climate resilience, addressing the growing threats of natural disasters.

Norma E. García-González, Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and Director of the Regional Park and Open Space District, emphasized the significance of this investment: “We are changing lives with this $17 million investment. In 2016, voters told us that high-need communities should be first in line for park funding, and we took that promise seriously. Through technical assistance, community-driven solutions, and a commitment to equity, we have ensured that the hardest-to-reach places—where families haven’t been able to walk to a park—are finally getting the green space they deserve. Today, we’re 623 acres greener, improving public health, climate resilience, and access to nature for all.”

Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

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

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

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up on BLM sign on Continental Divide Trail in Rawlins, Wyoming.

BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule

The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.

April 20 - Public Domain

Calvary Street bridge over freeway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path

Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.

April 20 - Smart Cities Dive