TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution in support of the formation of the Lower San Gabriel River Recreation and Park District; direct City Clerk to file the resolution with the Local Area Formation Commission - Los Angeles (LAFCO-LA); and, authorize City Manager to approve the final District Boundary Map on behalf of the City. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Parks provide many community benefits such as encouraging physical activity, improving health and fitness, mitigating against urban heat effects and air pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through trees and greenery. However, according to the CalEnviroScreen 4.0, many census tracts along the Lower San Gabriel River - largely defined by the Whittier Narrows Dam on the north and the Pacific Ocean in the City of Long Beach (City) to the south - are categorized as “disadvantaged communities” due to disproportionate exposure to poor air quality resulting from congested freeways such as the I-605, I-5, SR-91, and the I-405. Furthermore, many disadvantaged communities along the Lower San Gabriel River suffer from a severe lack of access to recreational opportunities and outdoor park space. Within City limits, every census tract abutting the Lower San Gabriel River north of Pacific Coast Highway contains less than one acre of park space per 1,000 residents.
The single greatest barrier to new park space along the Lower San Gabriel River is lack of funding and resources to maintain and operate those parks. The recently approved State water bond (Proposition 1) provides funding opportunities for the revitalization of the Lower LA River watershed, including a $30 million direct allocation to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) and funds for urban creek restoration. However, these resources are strictly limited to acquisition and development of facilities and cannot be used for operations or maintenance of park facilities. A lack of local resources often means that parks ...
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