Join Us for Our LA Park History Series

Series written by Kate Martin Rowe

Ask any tourist what image springs to mind when they think of Los Angeles and it’s probably not green space.

And yet, many of our most iconic places—the beaches, Griffith Park, the snow-capped San Gabriels—are out of doors. Angelenos know we have a secret outdoor life: The sunset reflecting off a looking-glass ocean at Will Rogers State Beach. The shriek of wild parrots ascending from a power line. The scent of eucalyptus on a Griffith Park trail or a grill firing up at Elysian Park. We are a city of secret parks, staircases, rivers, trails, public art, and eccentric landmarks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these treasured places have become even more important to us as we use them to connect with loved ones and neighbors and clear our minds.

Unfortunately, it is equally true that Los Angeles is poor in public space. Too many of our neighborhoods do not have easy access to parks. According to the Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore®, Los Angeles ranks 71st out of the largest American cities in terms of access, acreage, amenities, and investment in outdoor space.

The Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust continues to work with neighborhoods across the city and county to increase access to beautiful park and garden spaces. We are committed to equity in public land use and will continue to raise awareness about the importance of outdoor space for all who live here.

What if, instead of disparities in park access, our city was known for an abundance of parks and public spaces that connected its residents to each other? If all the children of our city had safe places to play? If all of our neighborhoods had access to bike paths, hiking trails, parks, and other space to be outside? What if Los Angeles was known not just for its spectacular beaches and mellow climate but also its commitment to park equity and justice? That’s the future we’re working toward at the Neighborhood Land Trust.

As we embark on our 20th anniversary this year, we’d like to honor some of Los Angeles’s most beloved outdoor spaces in a new series devoted to their history. Each month we’ll bring you a story that delves into the evolution of a particular place in Los Angeles. We want to tell the true stories of displacement, discrimination, and even atrocity that have given us our public spaces in order to learn from the legacies of our past and move toward a more equitable, healthier, and connected future. This includes the displacement of Indigenous peoples and theft of their land or racist planning practices against Black, Latinx, Asian residents and all communities of color. We’ll aim to provide a nuanced account of public space in Los Angeles and point you to resources for further learning.

We hope that you’ll join us in this journey.