Tuesday, June 25, 2024

LA County Launches ‘Lets Play Outside’ Campaign and Free Programming for July

CITY NEWS SERVICE

In celebration of 80 years of connecting residents to parks and nature, Los Angeles County officials launched the “Let’s Play Outside” campaign on Tuesday. The campaign offers free programming to kids during the month of July.

Various elements of the program will be available in Altadena at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, at 1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena; at Charles Farnsworth Park 568 East Mount Curve Avenue, Altadena; and at the Loma Alta Park Pool, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., Altadena.

At a news conference Tuesday morning, representatives of the Department of Parks and Recreation and Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis highlighted the campaign, and what they dubbed the “Outdoor Children’s Bill of Rights,” 10 activities that children can participate in this summer at county facilities and programs.

The effort is intended to show the county’s commitment to providing all children — regardless of race, income, gender identity, ability, geographic location or type of home — with experiences to celebrate childhood, officials said.

The 10 activities are playing outdoors, exploring nature, splash in a pool, go fishing, follow a trail, camp under the stars, ride a bike, go boating in a lake, connect with wildlife and plant a seed. 

A list of locations hosting the activities can be viewed at https://parks.lacounty.gov/lets-play-outside/

“We are thrilled to celebrate 80 years of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation by launching the Outdoor Children’s Bill of Rights and the `Let’s Play Outside’ campaign,” Horvath said in a statement. “Outdoor spaces are vital for the well-being of young people and all our communities.”

Solis said, “The “Let’s Play Outside” campaign will go a long way to ensure every child has a place where they can swim and hike or just explore — regardless of their ZIP code — and help create a new generation empowered with healthier minds and bodies.

The department, also referred to as LA County Parks, was founded on July 1, 1944, following a decision by the Board of Supervisors to merge the Department of Parks and the Department of Recreation, Camps and Playgrounds. Tuesday, LA County Parks manages 183 park facilities, 16 wildlife and wildflower sanctuaries that include 20 golf courses, 41 public swimming pools, 25 equestrian amenities, 14 bodies of water (including 3 recreational and boating lakes) and nine nature centers.

In addition, it has more than 240 miles of multi-use trails, 475 sport facilities and two iconic concert facilities: The Hollywood Bowl and John Anson Ford Theater.

“Connecting our community to nature and parks has been our core mission since our founding 80 years ago, and our world-class facilities and programming would not be possible without the support of our dedicated staff,” Norma E. García-González, director of LA County Parks, said in a statement. “The department has played a significant role in Los Angeles County’s history, from having the first racially integrated golf course to preserving ecological and culturally significant sites.”

As part of its programming, LA County Parks partnered with Rancho Los Amigos and Special Olympics to offer its Adaptive Sports programming for free at select park locations. Attendees can also register for free Ride A Bike classes hosted by partners from Bike LA, Active SGV, and Eastside Riders at select park locations across the county.

Additionally, for the 80th anniversary, LA County Parks has curated a collection of historic photos of many park playgrounds throughout the years available to view at Monday’s Playgrounds (arcgis.com).

The virtual exhibit features 55 images of historic playgrounds, architectural plans, and playground advertisements that span 53 years of program design. Images date back from 1937 to 1980 with the majority of photos from 1950’s to 1960’s which marked a period of rapid growth for both LA County Parks and Los Angeles County.