The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District announced Thursday it will allocate more than $9 million to support the development of park projects in communities in most need of open space.
The grant funding is from Measure A, the LA County Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks, and Beaches Measure — a parcel tax approved by voters in 2016.
Norma Edith Garcia-Gonzalez, the district’s director, said in a statement the funds will be critical in creating parks in communities with considerably less park acreage than the county average.
“This is a bold park equity investment in communities and in building a greener Los Angeles County for all,” Garcia-Gonzalez said.
County officials applauded the Technical Assistance Program, which was created from Measure A funding and helps organizations with applications for grant programs for their park projects. Officials on Thursday aimed to introduce TAP to community members and connect them with available services.
“Park equity is our core objective, and the Technical Assistance Program helps even the playing field for park projects in our high and very high need communities,” said Holly Mitchell, the chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “My district is one of the highest areas of park need, but this innovative program stands to transform how we develop and fund park projects.”
The funding will be allocated across 30 cities and in unincorporated areas.
Supervisor Janice Hahn said the pandemic showed the need for parks in communities.
“But there are neighborhoods across my district where families do not have access to a public park,” Hahn said. “With these allocations, cities across my district and across the county are going to be able to obtain the resources needed to invest in building new neighborhood parks and improving existing ones.”
