Comments
PARKS & RECS - The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) has approved a citywide Joint Powers Agreement with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) that could transform the way Angelenos access parks. This agreement paves the way for expanding the Community School Parks (CSP) program beyond its current 10-school pilot into elementary and middle school campuses across Los Angeles. LAUSD is scheduled to consider approval of this agreement on August 26, 2025.
A New Pathway for Park Equity
Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Parks Foundation released Pathways to Play, a report highlighting the potential of CSPs to address long-standing park and health equity challenges across the city. In many dense urban neighborhoods, limited land availability, high construction costs, and years-long development timelines have made traditional park expansion nearly impossible.
CSPs offer a creative and cost-effective solution: turning existing LAUSD schoolyards into vibrant public park spaces during non-school hours. These sites vary in their facilities but can provide shaded areas, open play fields, and safe gathering spaces for community members of all ages—especially in neighborhoods where access to green space is most limited.
Building on a 46-Year Legacy of Partnership
The Los Angeles Parks Foundation works closely with RAP to enhance public access to recreation and park amenities for the city’s diverse communities. With this new agreement, RAP will be authorized to operate a variety of recreational, cultural, and sports programs on CSP campuses during weekends, after school hours, and holidays.
While the framework is now in place, much remains to be done to fully realize the promise of CSPs. Funding will be critical to improving facilities, expanding programming, and eventually opening indoor spaces—including restrooms—for community use. The Foundation will continue working with RAP, local foundations, and philanthropic partners to secure the investments needed to make CSPs a cornerstone of park equity in Los Angeles.
Looking Ahead
If approved by LAUSD later this month, the agreement could mark a historic turning point in expanding recreational opportunities for Angelenos. Community School Parks have the potential to become not just play spaces, but hubs of neighborhood connection, health, and resilience.
For more information, visit: www.laparksfoundation.org
(Emma Haber oversees public relations firm, EH PR Group, which focuses on increasing awareness of significant civic and environmental issues, in addition to collaborating with clients in the hospitality and arts sectors. With over twenty years of experience in the industry, Emma established her latest public relations company in 2018.)
