For generations, Los Angeles parks have been more than green patches in the city. They’ve been the true gathering grounds of communities — a place where families celebrate birthdays, children play soccer and baseball, neighbors cool down in the summer, and crowds come together for concerts or simply for a break from the city’s chaos.

But now, a new city-commissioned study has revealed what many Angelenos already suspected: Los Angeles parks are struggling, underfunded, and falling far behind national standards.

📌 Story Highlights: Los Angeles Parks Study

• National Rank: Los Angeles parks dropped to 90th out of 100 in the Trust for Public Land’s annual ranking.

• Funding Gap: L.A. invests $92 per resident, compared to San Francisco’s $583 and Washington, D.C.’s $407.

• Decline in Quality: Less than 40% of residents rate parks in good or excellent condition.

• Deferred Maintenance: The repair backlog now exceeds $2 billion.

• Public Demand: Nearly two-thirds of Angelenos would support a bond or tax to restore parks.

• Next Steps: Residents have 45 days to give feedback online or at community meetings.

The comprehensive 500-page needs assessment, developed by landscape design firm OLIN in collaboration with city planners, UCLA researchers, community groups, and thousands of residents, paints a sobering picture of decline and neglect.

The study highlights that fewer than half of residents say they live within walking distance of a park or recreation center. Meanwhile, the department responsible for overseeing Los Angeles parks and recreation centers is working with a staff that is just half the size of previous decades.

Jimmy Kim, General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks, admitted that even basic upkeep has become difficult.

“The current workforce is half what it once was,” Kim explained.
“Park maintenance is like a game of whack-a-mole. We fix one issue, and another pops up.”

He added that the study confirmed what many city officials already knew — but also provided a roadmap for smarter resource use and potential new funding streams.

“My message to Los Angeles is simple,” Kim said.
“Please participate in this process. Your input will help us move forward.”

A Century-Old Funding Formula

Part of the problem, the study explains, lies in a funding formula that has not been updated since the 1930s. Despite population growth and increasing demands on Los Angeles parks, the percentage of the city budget allocated to them has remained the same.

Because the department is classified as a proprietary agency, it must also cover its own utility costs and reimburse the city for employee benefits — expenses that swallow nearly 40% of the budget.

Jessica Henson of OLIN, one of the study’s lead authors, pointed to how much more the department has been forced to do with limited resources.

“For the last century, the same percentage of the city budget has been allocated to parks,” Henson noted.
“But today, they’re on the front lines of critical services — from COVID response to wildfire support. They’ve been asked to do more with less for the last 15 years.”

A Path Forward

The assessment suggests a mix of strategies:

• Amending the city charter to raise the percentage of funding for Los Angeles parks.

• Extending Proposition K, a 1996 improvement measure set to expire.

• Building stronger nonprofit partnerships.

• Placing a new funding initiative on the 2026 ballot.

Guillermo Rodriguez of the Trust for Public Land, which ranks the nation’s park systems, said the time for patchwork fixes has ended.

“In every administration since Mayor Tom Bradley, the park system was taken for granted,” Rodriguez said.
“There’s no more tape, no more paint, no more magic tricks. It requires leadership and significant investment. Angelenos are ready to step up.”

Opening Schoolyards: A Quick Fix

One of the fastest solutions already being explored is opening L.A. Unified schoolyards to the public. So far, ten have been unlocked, and a new agreement between the city and the school district could make more available.

Jon Christensen of UCLA, who helped design the PerSquareMile tool used in the study, explained how targeted improvements could benefit the most people.

“It’s about the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the most efficient way,” Christensen said.

Still, the conversion of blacktop to green space remains a funding hurdle.

What Comes Next

Residents now have 45 days to weigh in before the final report is delivered to the Recreation and Parks Commission and eventually City Hall. Public meetings are scheduled this week:

• Thursday, 6–8 p.m. at Bellevue Recreation Center in Silver Lake.

• Saturday, 10 a.m.–noon at Westwood Recreation Center.

For a full schedule of upcoming virtual meetings and to read the needs assessment in detail, Angelenos can visit  needs.parks.lacity.gov.

As the city prepares to host the World Cup and the Olympics, the findings serve as a sharp reminder: Los Angeles parks are essential community assets in urgent need of care and investment.

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