Los Angeles County is sending out more than $78 million in Measure A grants to cities, nonprofits, and public agencies across the region to plan, build, and upgrade parks, beaches, trails, and riverfronts. The money will flow to 48 organizations and support dozens of planning and construction projects across the county. Officials say the bulk of the funding is headed to neighborhoods with the highest need for parks.
According to LAist, the funds come from Measure A, the voter-approved parcel tax that has been backing park projects countywide since 2016. LAist reports that nearly two-thirds of the awards are earmarked for areas the county flags as having high park need, and that the new grants cover everything from early-stage planning to full construction. The outlet’s roundup gives a quick snapshot of what kinds of projects are in line for support and how many groups are set to benefit.
Where the money will be spent
The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, or RPOSD, oversees Measure A competitive grants and defines categories for investment, such as Natural Lands and Water Conservation, Regional Recreation and Multi-Use Trails, and Parkland Acquisition, according to RPOSD. Those categories are designed to boost climate resilience, improve public access, and protect habitat while still supporting everyday community recreation. RPOSD also posts grant guidelines, application materials, and timelines so local agencies and nonprofits can track the rules and see what comes next in the process.
In a statement to LAist, Norma E. García‑González, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, called the package “the largest competitive grant investment in the county’s history” and said the spending will expand access to nature while strengthening community health and resilience. County leaders are framing the awards as both equity policy and climate strategy, treating new parks and green infrastructure as tools to cool hot neighborhoods and cut pollution in communities that have historically gone without. Groups that landed funding will now move into design work, permitting, and construction planning.
Why this matters
The grants are meant to chip away at long-standing gaps identified in the county’s Parks Needs Assessment, which maps study areas with high or very high park need and highlights the types of projects most likely to deliver benefits there. The assessment links park access to public health and environmental indicators, noting that communities with fewer parks often face greater heat exposure and heavier pollution burdens. Measure A competitive funding explicitly reserves a large share of money for those high-need study areas, using data-driven rankings to steer capital toward projects that might otherwise struggle to secure funding.
How to follow the awards
Residents can see which entities received awards and follow project locations and timelines on RPOSD’s website, where the district maintains an "Our Grantees" list and an interactive Park Investment Map Viewer to track progress. For deeper detail, RPOSD’s grants pages and the county’s Park Needs Assessment portal list award amounts, project descriptions, and expected schedules. Community organizations and residents who want to get involved or stay updated can reach out to RPOSD or the listed grantees for information about timelines and opportunities for community engagement.
