Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation facts for kids
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| Department overview | |
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| Formed | July 1, 1903 |
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| Jurisdiction | Los Angeles County |
| Headquarters | 433 South Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90020 34°03′59″N 118°17′31″W / 34.0663352°N 118.2919874°W |
| Employees | 1,477 (2010) |
| Annual budget | US$149,369,000 (2010) |
| Department executive |
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The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is a special group in Los Angeles County. Its main job is to take care of all the parks and fun places for people to visit. This department started in 1944.
They look after more than 71,000 acres of land. This includes parks, beautiful gardens, lakes, and even golf courses. They also maintain 200 miles of trails for hiking and exploring.
The department manages 183 parks. It also runs the world's biggest system of public golf courses, with 20 different places to play. They even own famous spots like the Hollywood Bowl and the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre.
You can even have weddings at some of their beautiful gardens. These include the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden and Descanso Gardens. Other popular spots are the South Coast Botanic Garden and Magic Johnson Park. The Virginia Robinson Gardens are also open for tours.
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Explore Nature in Los Angeles County
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation runs several nature centers. These are great places to learn about local plants and animals. They offer fun activities and educational programs.
Nature Centers to Visit
- Deane Dana Friendship Park and Nature Center
- Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area
- Eaton Canyon Park & Nature Center
- Placerita Canyon Nature Center
- San Dimas Canyon Nature Center
- Santa Catalina Island Interpretive Center
- Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area
- Stoneview Nature Center, Baldwin Hills
- Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park
- Whittier Narrows Nature Center
Fishing Fun in Los Angeles County Lakes
The department also manages several lakes where you can go fishing. These lakes are stocked with fish for everyone to enjoy. It's a great way to spend time outdoors.
Lakes for Fishing Enthusiasts
- Alondra Community Regional Park
- Apollo Community Regional Park
- Belvedere Community Regional Park
- Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park
- Castaic Lake State Recreation Area
- Cerritos Community Regional Park
- Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson Park
- La Mirada Community Regional Park
- Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area
- Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
Parks in Movies and TV Shows
Did you know that many movies and TV shows are filmed in Los Angeles County parks? The department helps with about 300 film projects each year. This includes big movies, TV series, commercials, and photo shoots for magazines.
How Parks Stay Safe
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helps keep the parks safe. They have a special Parks Bureau that provides law enforcement services. Before 2010, a different group called the Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety handled park security.
Who Manages the Parks Department?
The director of the department since 2020 is Norma Edith García-Gonzalez. A group of five people, called a commission, helps guide the department. These people are chosen by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
