Residents living near three Los Angeles County neighborhood parks are calling for cooling improvements in order to address concerns over extreme heat, officials said Tuesday.
People living near City Terrace Park, Eugene A. Obregon Park and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area want more shading around playgrounds and fitness areas, according to a survey conducted by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation.
The county has partnered with Climate Resolve to undertake a park cooling project. Parks department officials said they funded the project through a $3.9 million grant, which was awarded by the state in 2025 as part of the Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program.
The three parks were selected because the communities surrounding them are vulnerable to increasing severity, frequency and duration of extreme heat events, officials said. The parks serve residents living in areas where there is typically no air conditioning at home, or there are limited trees, hydration stations and an excess of black asphalt or concrete, which can contribute to the urban heat island effect.
The goal of the project is to inform county officials of what impacted residents would want to improve and how they’d want to address heat events — such as by planting trees or adding shade structures, hydration stations and programs to the parks.
“We’re proud to partner with Climate Resolve to elevate community voices and ensure our parks reflect the needs of the residents we serve,” said Norma GarcÃa-González, director of LA County Parks, in a statement. “As extreme heat continues to impact our communities, especially in areas with limited access to cooling at home, these insights are critical to guiding investments that make our parks safer, more comfortable, and more resilient.”
Of 184 residents who completed surveys, 91% of respondents from City Terrace Park said shade is very important when choosing a playground to visit and another 91% said it was important that playground surfaces stay comfortable to touch under sun.
About 74% of respondents living near Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area said it is “very important that the fitness zone is shaded,” with another 75% of respondents saying the presence or absence of shade impacts their decision to use fitness equipment.
Approximately 78% of respondents living near Eugene Park said shade was important for them when choosing a playground to visit, and another 85% said it is very important for playground surfaces to stay comfortable to touch under sun.