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Los Angeles County’s commitment to engage the public in decision making

Park and recreation agencies play a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities, protecting and preserving natural environments, and enhancing the quality of life for communities. To fulfill their mission effectively, agencies must regularly update and proactively involve the public in decision-making processes. Typically, park agencies engage the public in the following ways:

1. Public Consultations and Workshops: Organizing public meetings, workshops and forums to gather input, share information, and discuss proposed plans or decisions.
2. Surveys and Questionnaires: Conducting surveys and questionnaires to gather feedback from a wider audience and understand public preferences and priorities.
3. Online Platforms: Using online platforms and social media to reach a broader audience, share information and gather feedback.
4. Advisory Committees: Establishing advisory committees comprised of community members, stakeholders and experts to provide ongoing input and advice on park management decisions.
5. Partnerships and Collaborations: Collaborating with community groups, nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders to involve them in decision-making processes and leverage their resources and expertise.
6. Education and Outreach: Providing educational programs, workshops and interpretive materials to raise awareness about park issues and engage the public in conservation efforts.
7. Demonstration Projects: Implementing small-scale projects or pilot programs to demonstrate new ideas or approaches and gather feedback from the public.
8. Transparent Communication: Ensuring transparency in decision-making processes by providing clear and accessible information about proposals, plans and decisions.
9. Inclusive Approaches: Using inclusive and participatory approaches that consider the needs and perspectives of diverse communities and stakeholders.

Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is an example of an agency that actively engages the public in the above ways. Created in 1944, DPR is committed to meeting the park and recreational needs of residents and visitors through programming, facilities, land acquisition and stewardship, and other activities. DPR has a dual role of being the municipal park agency for the 1 million residents living in unincorporated areas and the regional park agency for the more than 10 million residents countywide. As such, DPR operates and maintains a wide variety of facilities, ranging from local parks to natural areas to regional parks to special-use facilities, like arboreta and botanic gardens. Carrying out this dual role is no easy task. After all, L.A. County is large and diverse, covering 4,000 square miles, and is home to 88 incorporated cities and more than 120 unincorporated areas.

Strategic Planning

For more than two years, DPR worked alongside community members, partnering agencies and organizations, and other stakeholders to develop a meaningful and bold strategic plan for the department’s future. The plan seeks to deepen connections with the communities it serves; increase park equity and access; improve stewardship of public lands, trees and other resources; support staff; and advance organizational excellence.

The strategies and actions of the plan reflect DPR’s priorities to improve the health and wellness of L.A. County residents, especially historically under-resourced communities and communities of color. The plan affirms and centers DPR’s work on equity and provides a roadmap to address the significant park and recreation needs identified in the Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs Assessment (PNA) and Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+).

Completed in 2023, the plan was developed with extensive community engagement and an anti-racism, diversity and inclusion (ARDI) focused framework. It reflects DPR’s commitment to prioritize funding and staffing for programming and park access initiatives that redress the social, racial, gender-based and environmental injustices that adversely impact the most vulnerable communities.
The strategic plan contains the following goals:

1. Promote play and well-being of youth, families and seniors.
2. Strengthen programs, experiences and engagement in community.
3. Increase park equity and access to innovative park space.
4. Invest in staff and volunteers.
5. Provide stewardship of public lands, natural resources and urban forestry.
6. Advance organizational excellence.

September Meetings

As part of its strategic plan, DPR made a commitment to hold annual public meetings in September to update community members about park facilities, recreational programming and capital projects, as well as provide an opportunity for them to identify priorities that should be addressed in DPR’s annual budget. September 2023 was the first time DPR hosted the meetings, with more than 60 meetings held at local parks and nature centers across the county. Public input received through these meetings and surveys (more than 730 completed) highlighted the need to improve park safety and expand programming, which became priorities in DPR’s budget submission to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

DPR learned a lot throughout the process, starting from when staff first received training in preparation for the meetings to when the meetings were held to when debriefs took place after the meetings. Key lessons gained highlighted the importance of:

• Following through on the commitment to implement the recommendations of a strategic plan.
• Proactively and regularly engaging community members and offering them opportunities to identify priorities and inform budget and other resource allocation decisions.
• Taking the time to listen to and have conversations with community members.
• Dedicating time and resources to prepare, train and mobilize staff to run public meetings.
• Providing both online and paper versions of surveys in multiple languages so that people can complete them in the format and language they are most comfortable with.
• Translating diverse public input gathered through the meetings and surveys into specific budget requests.
• Evaluating the various aspects of the meetings and developing specific strategies for improvement.
• Debriefing with staff to better understand their experiences and perspectives, and collectively determining how to improve the process for next year.

Benefits of Regular Public Engagement

DPR recognizes the importance of regularly updating and engaging the public. Specifically, doing so benefits the parks and the communities they serve in a variety of ways, including:

1. Ensuring Transparency and Trust – Regular updates and public engagement promote transparency, helping to build trust between park agencies and the communities they serve. By keeping the public informed about park developments, projects and plans, agencies demonstrate a commitment to open communication and accountability. This transparency fosters trust and confidence in the agency’s decisions and actions, leading to stronger community support for park initiatives.
2. Enhancing Community Involvement and Ownership – Engaging the public in park planning and management processes fosters a sense of ownership and pride in the community. When people have a say in the development of their local parks, they are more likely to use and care for these spaces. Public engagement also allows agencies to gather valuable feedback and insights from community members, helping to tailor programs and services to better meet community needs and preferences.
3. Educating and Informing the Public – Regular updates and public engagement provide opportunities to educate the public about the value of parks and the importance of conservation and restoration. Through outreach efforts, agencies can raise awareness about environmental issues, promote sustainable practices and inspire stewardship of natural resources. By informing the public about the benefits of parks, agencies also can encourage greater participation in park activities and programs.
4. Improving Decision Making and Resource Allocation – Public engagement can lead to more informed decision making by park agencies. By seeking input from a diverse range of stakeholders, agencies can gain valuable perspectives and insights that may not have been considered otherwise. This inclusive approach can help agencies identify priorities, allocate resources more effectively and equitably, and ensure park initiatives align with community needs and desires.
5. Fostering Innovation and Creativity – Engaging the public also can spark innovation and creativity in park planning, programming and management. For example, by involving community members in brainstorming sessions and design charrettes, agencies can tap into the collective wisdom and creativity of the community, leading to new ideas and approaches that can enhance the quality and appeal of parks and the programs offered.

Regular updates and public engagement are essential practices for park agencies seeking to fulfill their mission and serve their communities effectively. By promoting transparency, enhancing community involvement, educating the public, improving decision making and fostering innovation, these practices can help park agencies to create and maintain parks that are valued, vibrant and sustainable for generations to come.

SEE ALSO: “Community Engagement Best Practices,” Jennifer Fulcher, Parks & Recreation, November 2019, Vol. 54, Iss. 11.

Clement Lau, DPPD, FAICP, is former Departmental Facilities Planner with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and is currently Senior Analyst at L.A. County’s Chief Sustainability Office.