Los Angeles has been ranked among the bottom ten cities in the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 ParkScore rankings, which assess the park systems of the 100 largest U.S. cities. This ranking comes despite a recent $17 million investment aimed at creating new park spaces across every district in the city. While this investment slightly improved the city’s score in the acreage category, scores in other areas such as amenities, safety, and equity have dropped significantly.
The Trust for Public Land evaluates cities based on five categories: equity, access, investment, amenities, and acreage. Los Angeles has struggled with park equity and access, particularly in low-income areas and neighborhoods with a high percentage of non-white residents. Many parks in these areas lack basic amenities and face safety issues due to drug activity and encampments. For example, parks like Venice Centennial and Del Rey Lagoon have required extensive renovations after being overrun by encampments.
Los Angeles spends less on parks per resident compared to many other cities, allocating only $111 per resident annually. This is less than half of what most other cities spend, despite the city’s high property values. The city’s investment shortfall persists even though voters approved measures like Measure K and Proposition K nearly 30 years ago to fund parks and recreational projects.
With key park funding set to expire in 2026 and ongoing legal challenges related to ADA violations in new parks, Los Angeles faces critical decisions regarding future park funding and maintenance. The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore report highlights the need for continued investment and improvement in the city’s park system to ensure equitable access for all residents.
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