LA City Hosts Grand Opening To Celebrate Ten New Community School Parks

For Immediate Release: October 5 2024

Today, Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin, and the Department of Recreation and Parks celebrated the grand opening of ten new Community School Park locations across the city with a morning of festivities at Garden Grove Elementary School in Reseda. Joined by over 100 LAUSD students from across the region, kids were treated to arts and crafts, pickleball, inflatable basketball, volleyball clinics, and freshly made tacos on site! 

Garden Grove Elementary School is the tenth Community School Park (CSP) to open this year, following legislation introduced by Councilmember Raman in 2023 to significantly expand public space for communities in need by opening school facilities like playgrounds, sports fields, and basketball courts to the general public during non-school hours. Councilmember Raman’s legislation seeks to revitalize the City’s CSP program – which operated four sites at elementary schools until the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered access – and set the course for achieving former Mayor Garcetti’s 2019 LA Green New Deal goal of opening 25 Community School Park sites by 2025.

With over 6,400 acres of land, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the largest landowner in Los Angeles County. Opening school campuses to the public on weekends and holidays positively impacts Angelenos in every neighborhood of the City, and creates safe, car-free play spaces for children and families. 

“The City of Los Angeles has for too long been the poster child of a park-poor city. There are too many Angelenos living in neighborhoods that lack any recreational or open space,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “By partnering with LAUSD, we are able to add recreational space in an effective way deep into our neighborhoods. Families nearby, residents who may live in apartment buildings and lack access to outdoor space, will now have access to safe places to play outside! Together with LAUSD and community partners we will be able to grow wonderful new spaces for play and enrichment across Los Angeles.”

“Many Angelenos need greater access to recreational facilities and play spaces,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “This opening shows the commitment the City and LAUSD are making toward this goal. I want to thank Councilmember Raman for her leadership here and look forward to many more of these openings as Rec & Parks works with LAUSD to provide safe spaces for children to play.”

“This is a win-win opportunity to open our schools to the communities we serve and provide more park space in areas where it’s most needed,” said Board Member Nick Melvoin. “I’m grateful for the inter-agency collaboration that made this program possible. I have been advocating for the expansion of this program since I took office, and will continue to advocate for more urgency to open similar community school parks all across Los Angeles.”

“By opening our campuses to the public, Los Angeles Unified is helping bridge the gap in expanding park access across the city,” said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “Community School Parks offer safe, accessible spaces for families and children, especially in neighborhoods that need them most, fostering stronger community ties and healthier lifestyles.”

Today is a remarkable milestone for Los Angeles families and communities as we celebrate the opening of ten Community School Parks,” said Jimmy Kim, General Manager of Recreation and Parks. “Thanks to the support from Councilmember Raman and LAUSD, we’re not only expanding access for communities in need, but also ensuring that every neighborhood experiences the joy and health these play spaces provide.”

“I am truly grateful to each of these organizations for their commitment to our community and their support in creating spaces like this park where we can come together, grow, and thrive,” said Garden Grove Elementary School Principal Emilio Arauz. 

The Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) and LAUSD are continuing to work together on a Joint Powers Agreement to institutionalize the CSP program and select the next school sites. The Los Angeles Parks Foundation is also working on a report to guide future Community School Parks investments and inform the program moving forward. 

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