West

Though West Los Angeles includes some of LA’s more economically affluent neighborhoods such as Century City, Pacific Palisades, and Hancock Park, it also includes students near UCLA in Westwood, the thriving Japanese community of Sawtelle, and the rich energy of Koreatown.

West LA stretches to Western Ave on its eastern edge, north into the Santa Monica Mountains up to the Pacific Palisades, west to Will Rogers State Beach, and south to Dockweiler Beach, encompassing LAX.

West Los Angeles includes a wide variety of parks, from the recreational fields of Rancho Cienega Park and Cheviot Hills Park, to the popular Pan Pacific Park near the Grove, to the sands of Venice Beach. In addition to the variety of parks, West LA neighborhoods also benefit from their proximity to state parks, beaches, trails in the Santa Monica Mountains, Baldwin Hills, the Ballona Wetlands, and parks in nearby Beverly Hills, Culver City, West Hollywood, and Santa Monica. After the 2025 Palisades wildfires, fire risk, resilience and recovery are priority concerns. As in much of Los Angeles, communities in West LA are concerned about people experiencing homelessness occupying limited park space, maintenance and upkeep concerns, and safety.

West Council Districts and Neighborhoods

West, as defined for the PNA, encompasses City Countil District 11 , and City Countil District 5 .

Brentwood
Del Rey
Mar Vista
Marina del Rey
Pacific Palisades
Playa Vista
Playa del Rey
Venice
West LA
Westchester
Bel Air
Beverly Crest
Beverly Grove
Beverlywood
Carthay Circle
Century City
Cheviot Hill
Comstock HIlls
Encino
Fairfax
Hollywood
Larchmont
Melrose
Oak Forest Canyon
Palms
Pico-Robertson
Roscomare
Westside Village
Westwood
Westwood Gardens
Map of West LA
Map of West LA
City Boundary and Parks: City of LA Data Portal, 2025. Roads: US Census Bureau, 2025., LA River: National Hydrography Database, 2025.

Ongoing Council District Initiatives

As part of the ongoing “All About Parks!” initiative, Council District 5 received 1,200 responses to a park needs survey that was conducted within the district in 2024. The survey asked for broad feedback on barriers to park access as well as amenity usage and needs, and detailed feedback on up to 3 existing parks. Council District 5 plans to release this data publicly and is working to utilize the findings in conjunction with equity and Quimby considerations to develop their own prioritization of park improvements.

In the aftermath of the devastating Palisades Fire which occurred in January 2025, there is a heavy focus on recovery in Council District 11. This includes disaster response, impacts on the community, and rebuilding of community infrastructure and assets. Palisades Park Recreation Center was destroyed. The condition of other recreation and parks assets varies.

Summary of Key Issues and Engagement Findings

More Parks Within Walking Distance

Accessibility

Cleanliness, Maintenance and Safety

As in other parts of Los Angeles, residents in West LA would like more neighborhood parks and, specifically, more parks within walking distance.

Parks in West LA are well used, but residents have expressed concerns about cleanliness, maintenance, and safety. They would like to see increased staffing to enhance maintenance, security, and interpretive opportunities, such as rangers providing native plant and ecosystem education. They would also like to see more investment in graffiti removal, sidewalk and trail repair, and bathroom cleanliness. Better lighting and repairs, as well as extended park hours would make parks feel more welcoming.

Seniors are well represented among park users and have advocated for expansion of senior centers and senior recreational programming. Accessibility is another concern for seniors and more broadly.

Popular Parks in West

A bright and colorful playground is shown on a sunny day. Two children are actively playing on a blue slide. The playground features multiple climbing structures and platforms with a variety of textures and colors, including green, blue, and brown. Large, modern canopies provide shade over the play area.
A bright and colorful playground is shown on a sunny day. Two children are actively playing on a blue slide. The playground features multiple climbing structures and platforms with a variety of textures and colors, including green, blue, and brown. Large, modern canopies provide shade over the play area.
Cheviot Hills Recreation Center.
A sunny, bustling scene on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. People are walking and browsing various vendor stalls along a wide concrete path lined with tall palm trees. On the right, colorful buildings with arched entryways and murals line the street. The sky is clear and blue, and mountains are visible in the distance.
Venice Beach.
A photo of the entrance to Pan Pacific Park. The building has a unique Art Deco or Streamline Moderne architectural style, featuring a curved red brick wall and a tall, spiraling green structure. The park's name is spelled out in large, silver letters on the front of the building. The sky is overcast.
Pan Pacific Park. 2025.
A view of Venice Beach on a sunny day. The wide, sandy beach is empty except for a few seagulls and extends into the foreground. In the background, a line of palm trees stands in front of several low-rise buildings. The sky is a clear, light blue.
Venice Beach.
An outdoor fitness area with multiple pieces of exercise equipment is shown. The equipment is a combination of green and light-colored metal. It is set up on a paved surface next to a street. Bare trees and buildings are visible in the background under a bright, sunny sky.
Mar Vista Recreation Center.
A view of rolling, dry hills covered in dense, brown and green shrubs. The hills are dissected by a deep valley with greener foliage at the bottom. A dirt trail is visible on one of the hillsides, and power lines with tall metal towers are silhouetted against a clear, hazy sky in the distance.
Santa Ynez Canyon Park.
A bright and colorful playground is shown on a sunny day. Two children are actively playing on a blue slide. The playground features multiple climbing structures and platforms with a variety of textures and colors, including green, blue, and brown. Large, modern canopies provide shade over the play area.A sunny, bustling scene on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. People are walking and browsing various vendor stalls along a wide concrete path lined with tall palm trees. On the right, colorful buildings with arched entryways and murals line the street. The sky is clear and blue, and mountains are visible in the distance.A photo of the entrance to Pan Pacific Park. The building has a unique Art Deco or Streamline Moderne architectural style, featuring a curved red brick wall and a tall, spiraling green structure. The park's name is spelled out in large, silver letters on the front of the building. The sky is overcast.A view of Venice Beach on a sunny day. The wide, sandy beach is empty except for a few seagulls and extends into the foreground. In the background, a line of palm trees stands in front of several low-rise buildings. The sky is a clear, light blue.An outdoor fitness area with multiple pieces of exercise equipment is shown. The equipment is a combination of green and light-colored metal. It is set up on a paved surface next to a street. Bare trees and buildings are visible in the background under a bright, sunny sky.A view of rolling, dry hills covered in dense, brown and green shrubs. The hills are dissected by a deep valley with greener foliage at the bottom. A dirt trail is visible on one of the hillsides, and power lines with tall metal towers are silhouetted against a clear, hazy sky in the distance.

At a Glance

131
City Parks
1606.6303242315396
Acres of Parkland
513946
Resdients
286
Sports Fields and Courts
63
Playgrounds
24
Recreation & Community Centers
9
Pools & Splashpads
37%
Average Canopy Coverage in Parks

Top 3 Languages Spoken

English, Spanish, Other Indo-European

$117676
Median Household Income
$81173
Citywide
51072
Median Household Income
624523
Citywide
39.4
Median Household Income
37.5
Citywide

What we heard

A lot more trees and shade in existing parks. More parks in dense areas. More walking/hiking paths.
Diversity, equity and inclusion. My local park is a welcoming place
Stoner Recreation Center -- this recreation center needs a major facelift, the facilities are old including the outdoor playground and the grass field area is poorly maintained.
Favorite memory: 'Taking my children to folklórico classes to dance and build a community.'

Current and Future Needs: Survey Results

West region respondents feel better than the city as a whole about the physical condition of City of LA parks and recreation centers.

Parks
Recreation Centers

Fewer than half of West region respondents feel that there are enough parks and recreation centers within walking distance of their homes.

Most West region respondents visit a City of LA park at least monthly in the past year, while only half have visited a City of LA recreation center.

Parks
  • 94%Have Visited
  • 6%Have Not Visited
  • 6%Daily
  • 43%Weekly
  • 34%Monthly
  • 9%Yearly
  • 2%Less
    than Once a Year
Rec Centers
  • 50%Have Visited
  • 50%Have Not Visited
  • 1%Daily
  • 15%Weekly
  • 20%Monthly
  • 14%Yearly
  • 1%Less
    than Once a Year

Over 60% of West residents support a bond, levy, or tax to fund parks and recreation facilities.

Top 3 Most Important...

Outdoor Facilities

  1. Unprogrammed green spaces
  2. Natural areas & wildlife habitats
  3. Non-paved, multi-use trails

Indoor Facilities

  1. Exercise and fitness equipment
  2. Swimming Pool
  3. Weight Rooms/Gyms

Programs

  1. Fitness/wellness programs
  2. Special events/festivals
  3. Nature experiences or environmental education

Top barriers to visiting parks and recreation centers more often:

48%
People experiencing homelessness there
39%
Do not know where to go/what is offered
39%
Too far from our residence
30%
Facilities are not well-maintained
Download the Draft PNA PDF
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