"Parks are not nice to have. These are critical infrastructure for the communities that desperately need relief,” said Diana Molina, a community organizer with the Trust for Public Land, during an American Community Media briefing on Los Angeles' Measure PRK.
The proposed city charter amendment, which appeared on the November 3 ballot, would gradually double the minimum funding allocation for the city's Department of Recreation and Parks over 10 years, without raising taxes.
Supporters say the measure is necessary to address decades of underfunding, deteriorating facilities and unequal access to green space. However, because it would redirect existing city revenue, analysts have raised concerns about its impact on other public services.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who represents parts of the San Fernando Valley, said many working-class neighborhoods have long lacked adequate parks and recreational facilities.
“We have so many parks that are in great need of repair,” Rodriguez said, pointing to deteriorating bathrooms, playgrounds and other facilities.
The measure follows a citywide parks needs assessment that examined maintenance, staffing and infrastructure requirements. Rodriguez said the findings would help prioritize improvements in neighborhoods with the greatest needs.
Connie Chung, a managing partner at HR&A Advisors who worked on the assessment's financial analysis, said Los Angeles parks face approximately $15 billion in one-time capital investment needs and require around $600 million annually for operations.
She explained that while the city's operating budget has grown by 68% since 2009, the Recreation and Parks Department's operating budget has increased by only 35%.
Staffing has also declined. The department currently employs approximately 1,500 workers, compared with 1,961 in 2008.
These shortages have contributed to reduced programming, limited facility hours and delayed maintenance.
For residents, the consequences are visible.
Sakai Koyama, a longtime Echo Park resident and community advocate, described recreation facilities with leaking walls, aging trees and bathrooms that have taken years to complete.
“It's just simple basic maintenance,” Koyama said, explaining that residents want clean bathrooms, maintained trails and safe facilities.
Molina emphasized that the shortage of parks disproportionately affects lower-income communities, particularly neighborhoods such as Pacoima, Panorama City, Wilmington and Boyle Heights.
She cited an estimate that approximately 1.5 million Angelenos do not live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
For families without private yards, she said, public parks provide essential places for recreation, social gatherings and relief from extreme heat.
Supporters hope increased funding would allow recreation centers to restore operating hours, expand youth programming, improve accessibility and provide more shade and green space.
The measure would not immediately resolve the city's estimated $15 billion infrastructure backlog, but supporters argue that a stable funding commitment could prevent further deterioration.
The central question for Los Angeles is how to balance long-term investment in public parks with the city's other financial obligations.
As speakers emphasized throughout the briefing, parks serve purposes beyond recreation. They provide gathering places, cooling spaces during extreme heat and emergency resources during disasters.
