A free Los Angeles County program that provides a safe space for people during evening hours has achieved its goals by fostering stronger feelings of community and closer connections, according to a report released Wednesday by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
According to the report, 96% of people surveyed said the Parks After Dark program provides a sense of belonging within their communities, and 94% said the program helped them get to know their neighbors better.
“Research shows that parks and public green spaces are crucial for health because they provide places for outdoor recreation and exercise,” Nadereh Pourat, director of the UCLA CHPR’s Health Economics and Evaluation Research Program, said in a statement. “Parks After Dark is designed to increase safety of parks and provide programs that everyone can enjoy.”
Overall, the program had more than 405,000 unique visits throughout its eight-week run in summer 2023, and the most popular activities were movie nights, concerts, and sports clinics and games, according to the report.
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation introduced Parks After Dark in 2010 in neighborhoods that had higher-than-average rates of crime, poverty and obesity. The program has grown from three parks when it began to 34 in 2023.
Since 2010, there has been an estimated reduction of 74 serious and violent crimes, such as robbery, and 43 nonviolent crimes, such as vandalism, in participating parks and their surrounding communities, according to the report.
Parks After Dark also had positive health impacts. Among attendees who did not meet the recommended activity guidelines for their age, 72% participated in physical activity in the program, the report showed.
“Our study highlights the importance of public investments in parks to improve health, particularly in areas of Los Angeles County with above-average crime rates and among populations with limited resources and at higher risk of chronic diseases,” Pourat said.
Parks After Dark leaders added goals in 2023 to expand youth development opportunities and engage more older adults.
“Now in its 14th season, the L.A. County Parks After Dark initiative is elevating our commitment to programming based on feedback from our attendees,” said Norma Edith GarcÃa-González, director of Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation. “This summer, we’re thrilled to introduce an exciting lineup of events, including an eight-week concert and movie series, sports leagues for all ages, senior social hours, teen zones, and an incredible lineup of aquatic experiences for the whole family.”