Parks are not just for fun and games. They are also centers of community, offering shelter, food, and employment for the most vulnerable.
Parks are sometimes dismissed as “nice to haves” or as being just about “fun and games.” This perception is inaccurate because it essentially disregards the growing body of research that shows the importance of parks and the wide range of benefits they offer, especially during the pandemic.
In this story, writer Nate Berg profiles Norma Edith García-Gonzales, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), who has transformed county parks into “vehicles for equity.” During the pandemic, county parks have hosted coronavirus testing sites and later vaccination centers, and provided food and shelter to vulnerable populations.
Under García-Gonzales's leadership, the department has also prioritized high-need youth, extending service hours and eliminating fees for after-school recreation leagues while training staff to address substance abuse, suicide risk, and gang activity. DPR has even created jobs for many teens, with 700 youths hired for positions in recreation programs.
FULL STORY: Meet the woman turning Los Angeles County parks into vehicles for equity
Bringing Communities Together: Lunar New Year Festivities Across LA County
To celebrate the Lunar New Year, LA County Parks is hosting free community festivals at 61 parks, featuring cultural performances, food tastings, crafts, and interactive activities that honor the Year of the Snake and promote unity and tradition.
How LA County Parks are Fostering Equity
Los Angeles County's Department of Parks and Recreation actively engages the public through diverse methods to ensure parks and recreation programming align with community needs and priorities.
The Essential Role of Parks in Advancing Sustainability
Parks are vital to sustainability, providing environmental, economic, and social benefits that improve public health, support biodiversity, and promote equity, as recognized in Los Angeles County’s OurCounty Plan.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service