Parks Ambassador Program

Contract with local community-based organizations to pilot, and ultimately launch, a park ambassador program focused on high-need parks and parks without permanent staff. Park Ambassadors provide extra eyes and ears to support park users and staff. They help community members navigate the park and connect them with resources; report maintenance issues; and contribute to community stewardship within the park. Two potential focuses for the program are Youth Professional Development and a Promotores Model.

The Park Ambassador program could be set up to foster the next generation of city staff and provide job training and opportunities for underserved young adults. Participants would develop transferable leadership and project management skills and explore career pathways in public service, environmental stewardship, and natural resources management. This program could operate in-house at RAP, via an external consultant, or be managed by entities such as the LA Parks Foundation or LA Conservation Corps.

The Park Ambassador Program coordinates/contracts with CBOs in (severely) disadvantaged communities to operate and staff the program. While the Park Ambassadors would share some common ground across the city, each neighborhood/CBO would have the ability to shape their program to respond to their community’s needs. Across the system, Ambassadors would support park users, report maintenance issues, and foster environmental stewardship.