Council District Three (CD 3) includes the southwest San Fernando Valley.

The district is home to the headwaters of the Los Angeles River and a mix of foothill and valley parks. The area is experiencing some population growth which is putting pressure on park facilities and raising concerns for residents about how developer fees for projects occurring in the area such as Warner Center will be spent in the area to improve parks.

Many residents expressed concerns about park operations and maintenance and park rule enforcement. Concerns were raised about the prevalence of persons experiencing homelessness, particularly along the Los Angeles River trail. Other concerns include repeated increased taxes for city services and understanding how dollars are allocated around the city.

Population projections for 2050 reveal that growth is expected to be highest in the neighborhoods of Woodland Hills and Canoga Park, with Tarzana seeing some modest growth.

Council District 3 Neighborhoods

Canoga Park

Reseda

Tarzana

Winnetka

Woodland Hills

At a Glance

City Parks

Acres of Parkland

Resdients

Sports Fields and Courts

Playgrounds

Recreation & Community Centers

Pools & Splashpads

Average Canopy Coverage in Parks

Top 3 Languages Spoken

English, Spanish, Other Indo-European Languages

Median Household Income

Citywide

Median Household Income

Citywide

Median Household Income

Citywide

What we heard

Our family has participated in many programs over the years including summer camp, piano classes, swimming classes, para equestrian and adaptive surfing. I have been very impressed specifically with the adaptive programs which have provided quality programming for free or at a low cost.

Many of the facilities are old. There is a lack of wild open space. Many parks lack adequate shade for the heat.

There needs to be much more park space. Most of the parks in the Valley are concentrated in wealthy areas. There’s not much for the people in the Valley flats, so the few parks we do have are overcrowded and poorly maintained. It is common to see broken glass bottles and graffiti in the parks in the Valley flats.

Maintenance! Weeding, mulching to reduce weeds, and judiciously and aesthetically trimming trees and shrubs.

Current and Future Needs: Survey Results

CD 3 respondents feel worse than the city as a whole about the physical condition of both City of LA parks and recreation centers.

Parks

Recreation Centers

One-third of CD 3 respondents feel that there are enough parks and recreation centers within walking distance of their homes.

Most CD 3 respondents have visited a City of LA park in the past year, while only about half have visited a City of LA recreation center.

Parks

96%Have Visited
4%Have Not Visited

6%Daily
40%Weekly
35%Monthly
11%Yearly
4%Less
than Once a Year

Rec Centers

54%Have Visited
46%Have Not Visited

13%Weekly
30%Monthly
9%Yearly
2%Less
than Once a Year

Less than half of CD 3 respondents support a bond, levy, or tax to fund parks and recreation facilities.

Top 3 Most Important...

Outdoor Facilities

Unprogrammed green spaces
Non-paved, multi-use trails
Paved, multi-use trails

Indoor Facilities

Weight rooms/gyms
Exercise & fitness equipment
Walking/jogging track

Programs

Fitness/wellness programs
Seniors (age 50 & over)
Arts & crafts classes

Top barriers to visiting parks and recreation centers more often:

People experiencing homelessness there

Facilities are not well-maintained

Too far from residence; No visible patrolling presence

Lack of public restrooms; Poor/ uncomfortable atmosphere