Wednesday, January 14, 2026

LA County Approves $4 Million for Teen Centers in Altadena, Three Other Communities

[photo credit: County of Los Angeles]

Loma Alta Park facility expected by August; three other northern LA County parks to receive centers

Los Angeles County will invest more than $4 million to build teen centers at four parks across its northern communities, with the most detailed plans targeting Loma Alta Park in fire-recovering Altadena.

The Board of Supervisors approved the funding Tuesday for what county officials call “Our SPOT and Well-Being” teen centers—dedicated spaces where teenagers can gather, socialize, and connect. The Altadena facility will feature accessible walking paths, seating areas, shade structures, lighting, landscaping, and recreational elements designed specifically for teens ages 12 to 18. Construction is expected to finish by August.

For Altadena, the teen center represents another piece of rebuilt community infrastructure following the January 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed more than 9,000 structures. Loma Alta Park itself survived the fire with no buildings burned and reopened last May as what county officials termed a “super park”—expanding beyond traditional recreation to include mental health services, senior programs, and childcare alongside its existing teen programming.

“These teen centers will serve as important community assets that give young people a place to safely socialize and feel supported,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the Fifth District including Altadena. “At a time when many young people are feeling isolated, creating welcoming spaces where they can build relationships and engage with their peers is more important than ever.”

The $4,164,000 investment will support centers at four parks: Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Pamela County Park in Duarte, Stephen Sorensen Park in Palmdale, and Jackie Robinson Park in Littlerock. County officials characterized the project as addressing youth isolation and providing safe environments for connection, though construction timelines and detailed plans for the three parks beyond Loma Alta were not immediately available.

The “Our SPOT” program—which stands for Social Places and Opportunities for Teens—already operates as a free, drop-in teen center at Loma Alta Park and other county parks, offering after-school activities, mentorship, and recreation for teens ages 12 to 18. The newly approved funding will create permanent physical infrastructure for these programs rather than relying on shared park facilities.

Improvements planned for Loma Alta Park include accessible paths of travel, seating designed for teen use, shade structures for outdoor gathering, enhanced lighting for safety and evening use, landscaping that creates distinct zones, and recreational elements. The design aims to make the space inclusive, functional, and inviting for Altadena teens and those from surrounding areas.

“I wholeheartedly support these projects and the positive impact they will surely have in our communities,” Barger said.

Loma Alta Park, a 17-acre facility at 3330 North Lincoln Avenue, has served as a critical gathering point for Altadena residents during fire recovery. The park now houses mental health clinicians, a satellite library branch, senior services, and expanded childcare programs—services addressing needs created when the fire eliminated 34 early childhood facilities and displaced community gathering spaces. The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation manages 183 parks across more than 70,000 acres and operates the Our SPOT program at 16 locations countywide.

Teens interested in current programming at Loma Alta Park can call (626) 398-5451.

The centers join broader county efforts to rebuild park infrastructure damaged or strained by the Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people and burned more than 14,000 acres before containment last January. More than $60 million has been secured for Altadena parks restoration, with projects ranging from new playgrounds to reflection gardens now underway across the foothill community.