A Tale of Two Studies: Some Concerned Rec and Parks Report Replicates Work Already Done
by Anna Scott
Los Angeles Downtown News April 7, 2008
The city Department of Recreation and Parks, under scrutiny for $130 million in unspent park funds gathered from developers, now faces increased pressure to come up with a plan for the money.
In the [...]

The prevalence of childhood obesity by city council district for Los Angeles is shown in Chart 403CLA. The highest level is 29.3% in district 9 (Parks) in South Los Angeles. Even the lowest level of 18.1% is unacceptably high in district 5 (Weiss) in West L.A.
The prevalence of childhood obesity varied significantly among [...]

Councilman Tom LaBonge urges each councilmember to assign a deputy to work study The City Project’s Policy Report on healthy parks, schools, and communities. “Every day is another opportunity to try to create more space for people to live a better life in a city. A city, if you look at a city, how [...]

Councilwoman Jan Perry discusses the need for communities that are not park poor to work with communities that are to create parks for all.
Download the letter to the City Council summarizing our recommendations.
Download the Policy Report Healthy Parks, Schools, and Communities: Mapping Green Access and Equity for the Los Angeles Region.

Councilmember Wendy Greuel discusses the importance of parks and recreation for the quality of life in Los Angeles. “Thank you Robert for this presentation. We often find that parks are an integral part of the community and a neighborhood and particularly for those kids who have no other option in which to play.”
“Some [...]

The New York Times notes that racial and ethnic diversity in the United States undermines support for public investment in social welfare. For example, the share of municipal spending devoted to social good — education, roads, sewage, and trash clearance — is smaller in more racially diverse cities. For every four immigrants who arrived [...]

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti emphasizes that every place in the city can find space for new parks to empower youth, give them places to play, and keep them out of gangs and out of trouble. “Thank you for your continuing great work on park equity and bringing up issues that cut [...]

Councilman Jose Huizar discusses joint use of parks and schools to make optimal use of scarce land and resources. “In terms of the existing facilities, both on the city’s side and the school’s side, it’s just a matter of leadership and us working together to make that happen. The limited resources are there, we [...]

Councilman Ed Reyes addresses regional grassroots efforts to improve parks and recreation for all, and cites the history and pattern of discriminatory land use policies and racially restrictive housing covenants which contribute to disparities in access to parks, recreation, and housing. “These are problems that we have. The gang issue. We put [...]

Councilmember Janice Hahn discusses The City Project’s Policy Report to pinpoint where to invest in parks and recreation in each community, and the need for reforming park funding including Quiimby fees. “Thank you to Robert García of The City Project for giving us the presentation and really giving us a good picture of where [...]