I am excited to share that yesterday, in a packed room full of green shirts and park signs, the LA County Board of Supervisors voted to place a parks measure on the upcoming November 2016 ballot that would help raise funds to aid in new and existing park space. After hours of testimony from community activists, city officials and environmentalists regarding the importance of public health and environmental benefits of parks, all complete with “raising the roof” hands in the air (in lieu of applause as directed by Madame Chair Solis), the 3-1 vote of the Supervisors was met with great enthusiasm. It was an awesome moment for open space and parks advocates across the county.

The ballot measure, called the “Safe, Clean Neighborhoods Park, Open Space, Beaches, Rivers and Water Conservation Measure”, would impose a 1.5-cent special tax per square foot of building area, bringing in $94.5 million a year to help build and maintain 3,000 existing parks throughout LA County.

Now it’s up to the voters within Los Angles County to say “yes” in November. 

We have a lot to do in the coming months to build momentum – will you chip in $25 or more to support our collective efforts to create more open space for LA?

Sincerely,

Maria Camacho, Director of External Affairs
River LA

P.S. Check out the “Open Space and Parks” section of our LA River Index for additional data on the value of new and existing park space!