Three park projects in Los Angeles County received about $14 million combined in state grants, which the California Department of Parks and Recreation announced this week.
Those projects — in Hawthorne, Los Angeles and Paramount — were among eight total across California to receive a combined $42 million under the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Grant Program. That program has provided about $1.2 billion in grants to create better park access since its inception more than 15 years ago, according to a recent press release.
“Having access to outdoor spaces is critical for all Californians,” State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in the press release, “and these projects will contribute to the quality of life for many people who seek local parks to improve their physical, mental and social well-being.”
Zela Davis Park, in Hawthorne, received nearly $1 million for renovations through the statewide program.
The $963,060 will pay to construct a new playground and picnic area with shade, a basketball court, public art, landscaping, lighting throughout the park, and more upgrades, according to the press release.
Hawthorne has 0.41 acres of park space per 1,000 residents, according to a California State Parks email, “with a very limited availability of vacant land that can be acquired and developed as new park space.”
The Zela Davis Park project will renovate the existing 0.74-acre park, which was originally built in 1978 — and has had few upgrades since then. It “has no amenities to attract visitors and gets very little use as a community park,” the Thursday, Dec. 28, email said.
“New recreation features that will be added will greatly improve the condition of an existing and critically needed recreation facility,” the email said. “Community residents will be engaged during the renovation by assisting with the design of the art elements and through community partners such as Zela Davis Elementary School and…
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