Partnership Models for Increasing Park Access in Underserved Communities
January 19, 2022
Parks provide opportunities for people to be physically active, spend time in nature, and connect socially with others. Yet over half of Los Angeles County’s population lives in neighborhoods without access to parks and open space with the majority of high-need areas being concentrated in low-income communities of color.
LA County has an opportunity to address these decades-long issues through increased resources provided by the passage of Measure A. But money alone is not enough to address inequity. This event will delve into the importance of partnership models to advance park equity in the LA region, including examining the recently opened Golden Age Park.
Moderator
Madeline Brozen, Lewis Center
Panelists
Louie Leiva (he/him) is an educator and urban planner with an affinity for art in public spaces. Through his role as Assistant Director of Community Design Research with cityLAB UCLA, Louie builds upon community engagement efforts in the Westlake/MacArthur Park neighborhood, a place he knows well through childhood and his previous professional affiliation with Heart of Los Angeles’ (HOLA) Visual Arts Department.
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris is a Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Associate Dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. She has conducted research on parks and open spaces, children’s and older adults’ needs and uses of public spaces, the link between built environment and crime, and safety and security impacts on walking and physical activity, among other projects.
Tori Kjer is Executive Director at the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, holds a master’s degree and professional licensure in landscape architecture, with over a decade’s experience implementing projects and advocating for policies focused on improving community health outcomes through fresh food access, stormwater capture, and green space development.
Miguel Velasquez is the Mid-City site manager for St. Barnabas Senior Services. Over 30 years at St. Barnabas, Miquel has held various positions, including work as a program aide, activities coordinator, home assessment aide, and done marketing and outreach in English/Spanish.
Sean Woods is Chief of Planning for Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation where he is responsible for the oversight of planning and management issues related to the Department’s 70,000 acres of parkland and diverse facilities. Sean is particularly focused on promoting equity, sustainability, climate resiliency and environmental justice within the countywide park system.
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