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The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) has some exciting news to share with you. Another Measure A Acquisition-Only Competitive Grant Program cycle will be released this summer! This competitive grant program is an opportunity for eligible organizations to secure funding to acquire land for new parks, expansion of existing parks, multi-benefit parks, regional recreation facilities, wildlife corridors, conservation, preservation, restoration, trails, multi-use trails, and access facilities (trailheads, staging areas, roadways, parking lots). Stay tuned for further details and the official announcement, as RPOSD will share more information in the coming months. To ensure you stay informed and receive the latest updates and information, we highly encourage you to follow us on social media (@RPOSD on Instagram, Facebook, and X).
 As we celebrate the spring season of growth and renewal, RPOSD took a moment to honor the efforts of our dedicated team on Employee Appreciation Day in March 2024. Each RPOSD team member’s contribution is a vital piece of the puzzle, working together to advance the objectives of Measure A to bring quality parks, recreational programming, and green spaces to all Los Angeles County residents. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to every RPOSD team member for their continued commitment and effort as we work towards releasing another competitive grant cycle that will create more parklands and enhance access to these vital green spaces.
 The RPOSD team on Employee Appreciation Day.
The first term of the Citizens Oversight Advisory Board Members concluded in October 2023. We sincerely appreciate the Advisory Board Members' dedication to upholding transparency and accountability in the use of Measure A funds. Their commitment to ensuring these funds are utilized responsibly is invaluable to RPOSD’s integrity and mission success.
For the new term of office, we are delighted to announce the reappointment of Reginald Johnson by Supervisor Mitchell for the Second Supervisorial District and Mark Mariscal by Supervisor Barger for the Fifth Supervisorial District. We warmly welcome newly appointed Bruce Saito by Supervisor Solis for the First Supervisorial District and Yvette Lopez-Ledesma by Supervisor Horvath for the Third Supervisorial District. Their expertise in parks, park development, financial transaction evaluation, and/or program cost-effectiveness will continue to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency in the utilization of Measure A funds as we strive to achieve the goals of this measure.
At the April 17, 2024, Citizens Oversight Advisory Board meeting, Yvette Lopez-Ledesma was sworn into office. The Advisory Board was briefed on the latest developments on several important issues, including the replacement Grants Management System, timeline for the Competitive Grant Programs, and next Annual Allocation survey. Minutes from the April meeting will be available on the Advisory Board webpage upon the Advisory Board’s approval at the next meeting expected to take place on July 17, 2024.
New Section Created: Technical Assistance and Program Grants
RPOSD underwent an internal reorganization and created a new section that combined the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) with Program Grants. The purpose of the restructuring was to make TAP more robust and oversee the administration of the Youth and Veteran Job Training and Placement and Recreation Access Programs. The goal of this new section is to direct funding to High and Very High Need communities to achieve open space equity through the development of new parks and programming at parks and recreational spaces, improve park accessibility, and establish pipelines for youth and veterans in the parks and recreation career field.
Technical Assistance Program
Since January 2024, eight new Notices to Proceed (NTP) for TAP-eligible projects using Measure A funds were issued. To date, a total of 19 NTPs have been issued for a variety of projects, including land inventories, environmental tests, and community outreach and engagements.
TAP Project Highlight
The City of Artesia is expanding its park footprint with a botanical garden! The NTP for this project includes utilizing its allocated TAP funds for environmental studies during the initial stages of development. The City of Artesia will develop the botanical garden on an underused lot with plans of utilizing a combination of existing vegetation, tree planting, and native drought-tolerant plants. Upon completion, the site will feature amenities such as a picnic area, community stage, and mural space for public art.
Link into TAP - Live!
 Albert Rea, City of Bell Community Services Department Recreation Supervisor, shared insights into how the city utilized TAP funds to conduct an environmental study on a potential property to develop a new park.
On March 21, 2024, RPOSD hosted its first in-person event since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Held at Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park in Willowbrook, this half-day event is part of TAP’s educational initiative, Link into TAP, aimed at sharing knowledge and best practices in park planning and development to assist park agencies serving High and Very High Park Need communities in creating new parkland.
The event began with an informational panel, consisting of the Cities of Bell, Carson, Cudahy, and Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. The panel discussed the opportunities and challenges that they faced when implementing their TAP-funded projects. TAP organized a Funders Forum and brought local and state representatives, such as the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy, Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, and Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, who shared insights into funding sources available to leverage with TAP funds, including Measure W (Safe Clean Water Program) and State Conservancy bond funds. Attendees also received an in-depth overview of recent changes to the Measure A Annual Allocation, Maintenance & Servicing, and Competitive Grant Programs by RPOSD Grants Section Manager, Agie Jordan.
A highlight of the event was a motivational keynote speech delivered by Norma E. García-González, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and RPOSD, emphasizing the positive impact our collective efforts will have on Los Angeles County. She encouraged attendees to leverage the County’s resources and the implementation of the Park Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) to increase park footprint. We hope that the event inspired all attendees as they work to identify projects in their communities that will result in new green spaces. You can watch a highlight reel of the event by clicking on the button below:
Program Grants
In February 2023, RPOSD allocated a total of $12.5 million to 16 program grants for the Youth and Veteran Job Training & Placement and Recreation Access programs.
Youth and Veteran Job Training & Placement programs provide education, skills training, and career pathway development to implement programs, certifications, placement services, or apprenticeship opportunities for jobs and careers in the parks and recreation field for youth and veterans.
The Recreation Access programs increase Los Angeles County residents’ accessibility to public lands, park facilities, and park amenities, including education, interpretive services, safety information, transportation, and other activities, especially for those in high and very high-need communities.
Youth and Veteran Program Highlight
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Grantee: National Forest Foundation (NFF)
Measure A Grant: $432,259
Description: Revitalize the Angeles National Forest’s Field Ranger program back to full capacity, provide increased visitor services in high-use recreation areas of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and National Forest by employing diverse candidates via partnership service-learning
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programs that create training opportunities for aspiring environmental professionals.
1st Year Programming Completed – Awarded Funding for Year 2
Recreation Access Program Highlight
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Grantee: Nature for All
Grant Amount: $430,931
Description: Program will diversify and expand access to nature in historically underserved communities. The “All Aboard for Nature” program will deliver 10 trips from local community hubs to County parks, nature centers, and public lands, free of cost to at least 350 program participants each year. Participants will experience improved access, knowledge and connectivity to nature and open spaces.
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1st Year Programming On-Going – Anticipated 1st Year Completion in Summer 2024
Calabasas Community Center Grand Reopening
 Photo of the new community center, courtesy of the City of Calabasas.
After four years of closure, the Calabasas Community Center is open once again! Formerly known as the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, this community center was a joint venture between the two cities, who acquired the land from Los Angeles County at no cost in the 90s. Through grants, a sprawling 30,000-square-foot facility was created and opened in 1999, featuring a multi-purpose room, gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts, outdoor patio areas, and more. It quickly became a beloved space for residents of both communities.
After years of heavy use, the center required substantial renovations and upgrades. Grants, including Measure A and Proposition A funds totaling $844,000 and $166,000 respectively from RPOSD, were allocated to replace and repair the facility's deteriorating roof. During renovations, an agreement was reached between Agoura Hills and Calabasas, resulting in Calabasas assuming responsibility for all operations and maintenance of the |
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center. As part of this arrangement, the center's name was changed to the "Calabasas Community Center."
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RPOSD attended the grand reopening on March 16, 2024, and walked through the beautifully restored community center. The community center offers recreation classes for all ages, including fitness, wellness, and arts. Additionally, there are meeting rooms, a banquet hall, a warming kitchen, and state-of-the-art video walls for events. The 10,000-square-foot gymnasium boasts new wood flooring for pickleball, basketball, and other sports, while |
the weight room includes cardio equipment, strength training, and free weights. All Los Angeles County residents may utilize this facility as a condition of RPOSD funding is equal access to all Angelenos. Congratulations to the City of Calabasas on the reopening of this beloved community center!
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