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The Department of Recreation and Parks stewards Los Angeles’ park system, providing green space to support residents’ mental and physical health, playgrounds and programs for residents to play, and gathering spaces for families and friends.

Further, RAP delivers essential citywide services, including violence intervention programs like Summer Night Lights; childcare through programs, recreation, and summer camps; and emergency management services, such as operating shelters during crises and cooling centers during heat waves.

A contemporary playground structure featuring a multi-level climbing tower with colorful climbing panels, enclosed spiral slides, and adjacent shaded seating areas, set within a landscaped park under blue skies.
Children playing at a playground at Highland Recreation Center
City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

The Park System

RAP Parks Organized by Size

RAP’s parks arranged in order from largest to smallest.
OLIN, 2025.

The City of Los Angeles park system encompasses more than 16,000 acres of land at around 500 park sites. In addition to parks owned, operated, or managed by the City, other entities such as the federal, state, and county governments as well as land conservancies and non-profits manage, own, and operate parks within City boundaries. All of these parks together are important to the well being of Angelenos.

This assessment is focused on parks that are owned, operated, or managed by the City of LA Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP).

A landscaped park path bordered by native plants and yellow wildflowers, with large shade trees and hills in the background.
A walking trail at Oro Vista Park in the Valley
City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks

RAP Parks Organized by Size

Figure 88. RAP’s parks arranged in order from largest to smallest.
Open grassy park landscape with scattered trees, paved walking path, benches, and visitors sitting or walking throughout the area.
Open grassy park landscape with scattered trees, paved walking path, benches, and visitors sitting or walking throughout the area.
Two young children smiling and laughing while sharing a swing at the playground, with one holding a small toy block.
Small neighborhood park with large trees, green grass, and scattered boulders, bordered by residential buildings and parked cars.
Traditional Korean-style pavilion with a green tiled roof, red columns, and a large bell in the center, situated on a raised stone platform with visitors gathered around.
Echo Park Lake features a large fountain and two swan boats on the water. A patch of water plants covers the foreground, with the Los Angeles skyline visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Three children riding bicycles along paved path surrounded by patchy grass and trees.
A modern playground on a sunny day. In the foreground, there is a large, orange, spherical climbing structure. A larger, multi-level play structure with slides is visible in the background, shaded by fabric canopies. Trees, a basketball court, and buildings are in the distance.
Dirt walking path with water fountain and trashcan on left near bushes and surrounded by green grass.
Historic locomotives and railcars displayed along train tracks, with a covered structure and additional rail equipment in the background.
Palm trees and other greenery reflected in a calm pond, with landscaped grass, rocks, and vegetation along the water’s edge under a clear blue sky.
Open grassy park landscape with scattered trees, paved walking path, benches, and visitors sitting or walking throughout the area.Two young children smiling and laughing while sharing a swing at the playground, with one holding a small toy block.Small neighborhood park with large trees, green grass, and scattered boulders, bordered by residential buildings and parked cars.Traditional Korean-style pavilion with a green tiled roof, red columns, and a large bell in the center, situated on a raised stone platform with visitors gathered around.Echo Park Lake features a large fountain and two swan boats on the water. A patch of water plants covers the foreground, with the Los Angeles skyline visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.Three children riding bicycles along paved path surrounded by patchy grass and trees.A modern playground on a sunny day. In the foreground, there is a large, orange, spherical climbing structure. A larger, multi-level play structure with slides is visible in the background, shaded by fabric canopies. Trees, a basketball court, and buildings are in the distance.Dirt walking path with water fountain and trashcan on left near bushes and surrounded by green grass.Historic locomotives and railcars displayed along train tracks, with a covered structure and additional rail equipment in the background.Palm trees and other greenery reflected in a calm pond, with landscaped grass, rocks, and vegetation along the water’s edge under a clear blue sky.

Park Amenities

Across the park system, there are thousands of park amenities, including active and passive areas, recreation facilities, habitat or natural areas, trees, and iconic structures like the Griffith Observatory or the Greek Theatre. Since the system is so vast, it can be difficult to encapsulate the extent of features.

During 2024, RAP completed an assessment of about 34 types of recreational amenities at 355 sites. RAP completes this assessment annually.

These amenities are rated as good, fair, or poor and help provide a detailed understanding of a facility’s current condition. These annual condition scores help inform RAP’s decision-making processes regarding maintenance, repairs, and future investments.

16000+
Acres of Parkland
489
Parks
92
Miles of Trails
1711
Full-Time Employees
5000
Part-Time Employees
32
Skate Parks
5
Golf Courses
300
Diamond Fields
26
Amphitheaters
8
Community Gardens
617
Parking Lots
165
Rec & Senior Centers
374
Outdoor Fitness Areas
446
Basketball Hoops
223
Picnic Shelters
11
Concession Stands
51.5
Pickleball Courts
447
Playgrounds
370.5
Tennis Courts
115
Fitness Zones
1
Bandshell
44
Equestrian Rings
3
Roller Hockey Rinks
59
Swimming Pools
13
Splash Pads
1504
Bathrooms
89
Volleyball Courts
2
Disc Golf Courses
1
Nature Center
12
Museums
14
Dog Parks
94
Gymnasiums
235
Multipurpose Fields
101
Rectangular Fields
3
Childcare Buildings
An outdoor artificial turf sports field with soccer goals, surrounded by fencing and trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
Soccer players at Pan Pacific Park in West LA.
OLIN
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