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It has been an action-packed summer at the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD), and we have a lot of new developments to share with you. In August 2024, we welcomed Mark Glassock as our new Assistant District Administrator. As the second-in-command at RPOSD, Mark is a valuable addition to our team, with over 15 years of experience managing large-scale park projects and policy initiatives. To learn more about him and the other new staff members who have joined RPOSD over the past year, please refer to the previous email blast containing their biographies.
Acquisition-Only Competitive Grant Program
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The Acquisition-Only Competitive Grant Program application period closed on September 27, 2024. Applications will undergo a detailed review by RPOSD staff and a panel of independent park and real estate experts. We look forward to announcing selected applications in the months to come. Each acquisition made using Measure A dollars will be public space forever! |
Grants Management System Request for Proposals Deadline of October 24, 2024
RPOSD has taken an early, but critical step in transforming our grants management system. RPOSD issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to transform the online portal that is the primary application, management, and closeout tool for RPOSD and our grantees. The deadline for proposals is October 24, 2024. For more information, please review the RFP. We anticipate a new grant system to be in place by early 2026.
The New Measure A Annual Allocation Master Agreement Process
The new streamlined process for accessing Annual Allocation funding is now underway. RPOSD has executed Master Agreements with 46 of its Annual Allocation grantees to date and many are already experiencing the significant benefits.
With this new process, the time from submitting a work plan to receiving a Notice to Proceed has been reduced to just one to two weeks, a significant improvement compared to the previous month-long review and approval timeline. To learn more about the new Annual Allocation process, click on the button below to visit our Annual Allocation webpage.
Annual Staff Retreat
 RPOSD team on the Hollywood Bowl stage.
We recently held our annual staff retreat at the iconic Hollywood Bowl, a public park managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and operated by the LA Philharmonic. The Bowl, open for exercise and picnicking when not in use, provided a stunning backdrop for a day of team building and reflection.
Over the years, RPOSD has provided more than $56 million in Proposition A funding for renovations, including the museum, fountain restoration, and sound wall replacements. It was inspiring to see how these investments have helped preserve this historic landmark as a premier venue for music and entertainment.
The day included wellness activities and team exercises, leaving us recharged and proud of our impact on Los Angeles County communities.
Quarterly meetings are opportunities for public members to address the Advisory Board regarding any items of interest that are within the Advisory Board's jurisdiction. RPOSD encourages all to attend. Public members have the option to attend in person or virtually.
On-Site Information
Address: 1000 S. Fremont Ave Unit #40 Building A-9 East Ground Floor Alhambra, CA 91803
Room: Ground Floor Conference Room G-101
Microsoft Teams Meeting Information
Join on your computer or mobile app:
Meeting ID: 215 905 627 447
Passcode: S7h4Kr
Or call in (audio only) +1 323-776-6996,730589488# United States, Los Angeles
Phone Conference ID: 151 167 586#
Public comments can be submitted prior to the meeting via email to info@rposd.lacounty.gov or online using the form on the Advisory Board webpage. Written public comment must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled meeting.
    
One of RPOSD’s key strategies to achieve park equity is the Technical Assistance Program (TAP). The program provides support and free resources to the eligible entities with jurisdiction over the high and very high park-need areas in the County. In July 2022, RPOSD allocated over $9 million to 30 eligible entities (also referred to as TAP Eligible Entities), enabling them to hire consultants to assist with pre-park development. To date, RPOSD has issued 26 Notices to Proceed, authorizing 17 TAP Eligible Entities to use their TAP funds to hire consultants for services such as land inventories, environmental testing, conceptual designs, among many other services. The following is a highlight on one of the TAP Eligible Entities, the City of Carson, utilizing TAP funding to expand an existing park in their city.
TAP Project Highlight:
The City of Carson is expanding Carriage Crest Park, increasing its current size of 4.84 acres by acquiring the 10.5 acres of vacant land located next to the park from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. This expansion will nearly triple the park's size and provide increased recreational amenities and programming opportunities. Carson is utilizing $185,000 of their allocated TAP funds for project management, site planning, and construction drawings.
 The concept plan for Carriage Crest Park expansion and aerial view of the park from Google Maps.
Program Grants Highlights:
In February 2023, RPOSD awarded its first-ever programming grants. The two highlighted programs below have successfully completed their first year of implementation.
Youth and Veteran Program Highlight
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Grantee: ReIGNITE Hope
Program: ReIGNITE Hope No One Jobless
Grant Amount: $1,200,000
ReIGNITE Hope is a program that teaches job skills, life skills, and welding to underserved young adults and veterans, helping them qualify for careers in parks or other roles requiring welding expertise. The program serves
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individuals facing employment barriers, including legal, substance abuse, or mental health challenges. Upon completion, participants receive American Welding Society certifications in one or two welding processes. RPOSD funding also supported the creation of a mobile training center, allowing the program to expand beyond its Lawndale classroom. In its first year, ReIGNITE Hope trained 102 participants, with 34 securing full-time welding jobs.
Recreation Access Program Highlight
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Grantee: City of Paramount
Program: Paramount Pathfinders
Grant Amount: $534,292
Paramount Pathfinders is a multi-generational excursion program that focuses on both education and immersion-based trips. Los Angeles County residents will have the oppor-
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tunity to learn basic outdoor life skills, gain knowledge about the natural environment of the County, and culminate with an outdoor excursion that will reinforce what they have learned. In its first year of programming, 648 participants have gone whale watching and visited locations such as Malibu Creek State Park, Getty Villa, Paramount Pictures Studio, Whittier Narrows Nature Center, Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum, Catalina Island Conservancy, Science of Gingerbread-Discover Cube LA, Travel Town Museum, El Capitan, Griffith Observatory, and Rancho Los Cerritos.
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