Los Angeles County just celebrated the grand opening of its newest park. Located in the community of Walnut Park, Nogales Park offers a gathering space and recreational amenities long desired by residents.

On December 9, 2023, Los Angeles County celebrated the grand opening of the 0.5-acre Nogales Park in the unincorporated community of Walnut Park. According to the 2016 Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs Assessment, Walnut Park is a study area with a very high level of park need. To improve park access and address the needs of residents, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) worked with the community to plan for, design, and develop a new pocket park along Pacific Boulevard in the center of Walnut Park.
While Nogales Park may be relatively small in size, it offers a variety of amenities long desired and requested by community members, including new playgrounds with shade, outdoor exercise equipment, a splash pad, a walking path, a performance stage, public art, and a picnic and BBQ area. In addition, stormwater capture elements have been incorporated into the park, including a diversion system and infiltration dry wells to divert and capture both urban and stormwater runoff. These elements help to reduce bacteria and metal pollutants from entering the Los Angeles River through the capture of stormwater and urban runoff.
The new pocket park is one of several priority park projects featured in the article From Plans to Park, which discusses how DPR has been proactively developing and implementing park plans to meet the needs of residents in the most underserved and vulnerable communities of L.A. County.
FULL STORY: LA County Parks Celebrates Opening of Nogales Park in Walnut Park

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.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland