Creating a New Park Where It is Most Needed

Los Angeles County just celebrated the grand opening of its newest park. Located in the community of Walnut Park, Nogales Park offers a gathering space and recreational amenities long desired by residents.

2 minute read

December 18, 2023, 9:00 AM PST

By Clement Lau


Google street view of vacant lot in South Los Angeles in 2022.

The site of Nogales Park in Walnut Park, Los Angeles County in 2022. | Google Maps / Street view of future Nogales Park site.

On December 9, 2023, Los Angeles County celebrated the grand opening of the 0.5-acre Nogales Park in the unincorporated community of Walnut Park.  According to the 2016 Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs Assessment, Walnut Park is a study area with a very high level of park need. To improve park access and address the needs of residents, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) worked with the community to plan for, design, and develop a new pocket park along Pacific Boulevard in the center of Walnut Park.

While Nogales Park may be relatively small in size, it offers a variety of amenities long desired and requested by community members, including new playgrounds with shade, outdoor exercise equipment, a splash pad, a walking path, a performance stage, public art, and a picnic and BBQ area. In addition, stormwater capture elements have been incorporated into the park, including a diversion system and infiltration dry wells to divert and capture both urban and stormwater runoff. These elements help to reduce bacteria and metal pollutants from entering the Los Angeles River through the capture of stormwater and urban runoff.

The new pocket park is one of several priority park projects featured in the article From Plans to Park, which discusses how DPR has been proactively developing and implementing park plans to meet the needs of residents in the most underserved and vulnerable communities of L.A. County.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 in UNE News Express

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13, 2024 - Todd Litman

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18 - University of Kansas

Couple on one side of desk with banker on other side looking at paperwork.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?

Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

June 18 - Shelterforce Magazine

Rendering of Glory Park in Lewisville, Texas.

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas

The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.

June 18 - Lewisville Leader

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.