Funding Our Parks Future

In a city as large and diverse as LA, few places unify us Angelenos quite like our parks. Gems like Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, and Venice Beach are beloved by both tourists and residents for their scenery and the opportunity to experience our enviable scenery, natural resources, and weather. For each well-known, well-touristed park in the city, there are many other smaller parks and recreation centers that serve the everyday needs of residents. These parks enhance the quality of our lives while providing us with physical and mental health benefits, and social outlets via many recreational and community-building opportunities. Despite all these benefits, the City of Los Angeles often lacks the funding needed to maintain and modernize our parks and their infrastructure for future generations. Focusing on funding has been a big part of my role working for Councilmember Raman.

Securing Funding Sources External to the City of Los Angeles

With City of Los Angeles budgets often beholden to the political and economic challenges of each year, it is important to look beyond City resources to what might be available from State and Federal sources. In the 2022 budget planning process, that's what I did for parks and recreational facilities within Council District 4, applying for and supporting existing applications for congressional and statewide appropriations. With well-written applications and a clear bench of shovel-ready projects for the district, I was able to secure approximately $10 million in federal congressional appropriations and $4 million for CD4 and Valley-based projects, predominantly in our park system.

Some of these funds will go toward traffic safety improvements within large parks, while other funds will target upgrades to recreational facilities by reconstructing buildings or replacing park lighting and turf.

Internal City of La Sources, Philanthropy

Additionally, I work closely with Council District 4 staff, the Mayor's Office, and fellow Council Offices to ensure other parks projects are properly funded via the annual budget cycle or via Quimby funds available. Philanthropy has also played a very positive role, often leading on projects with Council District 4 providing additional funds to help bridge a funding gap.