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. Their main job is to take care of all the amazing parks and fun places where people can play and relax. They were started in 1944.
This department looks after a huge area of land, over 71,000 acres! This includes parks, beautiful gardens, sparkling lakes, natural areas, and even golf courses. They also manage more than 200 miles of trails, perfect for hiking or biking.
They manage 183 parks and run the biggest system of public golf courses in the world, with 20 different courses. They also own famous places like the Hollywood Bowl and the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, where you can see concerts and shows. Some of their beautiful gardens, like the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, are even popular spots for weddings! You can also visit the Virginia Robinson Gardens for tours.
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Discovering Nature in Los Angeles County
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation has many special places called nature centers. These centers are great for learning about local plants, animals, and the environment. They help you explore and understand the natural world around you.
Here are some of their nature centers:
- 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
If you love to fish, the department also manages several lakes where you can cast a line. These fishing lakes are perfect spots for a relaxing day outdoors with family and friends.
You can find fishing lakes at:
- 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
Did you know that Los Angeles County parks are often used for filming? The department helps with about 300 film projects every year. This includes movies, TV shows, commercials, and even photo shoots for magazines. So, the next time you watch a show, you might spot one of your favorite parks!
Keeping Our Parks Safe
To make sure everyone can enjoy the parks safely, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helps out. They have a special Parks Bureau that provides safety and law enforcement services. This means they help keep the parks a fun and secure place for everyone to visit.
Who Manages the Parks Department?
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is led by a director. Since 2020, the director has been Norma Edith García-Gonzalez. The department is also guided by a group of five people called a commission. These five people are chosen by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to help make important decisions about the parks.
