L.A. AREAS WITH LIMITED OPEN SPACE LESS LIKELY TO GET PARK FUNDING

(9 May 2002—Los Angeles)  Environmental Defense and the Verde Coalition today praised Parks and Park Funding in Los Angeles: An Equity Mapping Analysis, a report by the Sustainable Cities Program at the University of Southern California (USC).  The report is timely since “Bringing Community Back to the City” is the topic of the Urban Land Institute Mayors’ Forum, which Mayor Hahn will host in Los Angeles on May 15th.  The report may be viewed at http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/ESPE/ on the web.

The report found that distribution of Proposition K funds has heightened existing inequities in park access.  Low-income areas and minority neighborhoods have less access to park resources compared to areas with mainly white populations, according to the report.  Proposition K, passed in 1996, provides $30 million for open-space development in Los Angeles every two years.

“The legislation USC looked at was intended to address park resource inequities.  However, the exact opposite outcome has occurred,” said Misty Sanford, policy analyst at Environmental Defense and member of the Verde Coalition.  “The fact remains that the complex distribution process of park funds makes them nearly impossible for community organizations to access.” 

“The mechanisms in place to deal with disparity in park access are not working because of the lack of community participation and ownership in land use planning,” said Tricia Ward executive director of ARTScorpsLA and a commissioner on the Commission for Children, Youth and their Families.  

Low-income communities and communities of color in the densely populated urban core of Los Angeles have an average of .455 acres of assessable parks space per 1000 residents, less than 5% of the national standard.  After hearing testimony from community leaders, the Verde Coalition and Environmental Defense, the City Council agreed to set up the Walking to the Park task force to report on the use of an urban land trust to eliminate park access disparities.

“Future park projects should make certain that there is a strong commitment to community participation in every step of the process,” said David Marquez director of the Central City Neighborhood Partners.  “The creation of an urban land trust by the City Council will help small non-profits, community groups and others gain access to park funds and act as a guide through the park development process.”