Environment

Parks & Recreation

Access to parks, fields, courts, playgrounds, and programs.

Why it matters here

Parks are the shared backyard in a dense coastal city.

Where this matters

Pacific OceanSanta Monica PierSanta Monica BeachDowntown Santa MonicaThird Street PromenadeMain StreetMontana AvenueSanta Monica Airport AreaSanta Monica CollegePalisades ParkReed ParkMemorial ParkVirginia Avenue ParkAirport ParkCivic CenterOcean ParkPico NeighborhoodMid-CityNorth of MontanaWilshire / MontanaSunset ParkNortheast Santa MonicaDowntown ResidentialMajor CorridorsE Line Stations

Santa Monica Beach

Miles of wide public sand running the length of the city, with the beach path, volleyball courts, and open water.

What we love:
The Ocean & Beach · Sunsets · Outdoor Lifestyle
Key issues:
Beach & Ocean · Environment · Public Safety
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Santa Monica Airport Area

A large, city-owned open area on the eastern edge — aviation history, creative and cultural tenants, Airport Park, and the city's biggest long-range land use question.

What we love:
Historic Places · Arts & Culture · Parks & Green Space
Key issues:
Development · Parks & Recreation · Environment
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Palisades Park

A narrow bluff-top park running along Ocean Avenue, with palms, walking paths, and the city's best ocean overlooks.

What we love:
Views · Sunsets · Trees & Landscape
Key issues:
Maintenance & Cleanliness · Public Safety · Homelessness
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Reed Park

A neighborhood park at Lincoln and Wilshire with tennis courts, playgrounds, and the Miles Playhouse.

What we love:
Parks & Green Space · Recreation & Sport · Community
Key issues:
Public Safety · Maintenance & Cleanliness · Homelessness
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Memorial Park

A recreation-heavy park on Olympic with fields, a gym, a skate park, and community programming.

What we love:
Recreation & Sport · Parks & Green Space · Community
Key issues:
Parks & Recreation · Maintenance & Cleanliness · Public Safety
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Virginia Avenue Park

A community park in the Pico neighborhood with a teen center, farmers market, and community programs.

What we love:
Community · Parks & Green Space · Farmers Markets
Key issues:
Community Events · Parks & Recreation · Education
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Airport Park

Sports fields, dog parks, and open space on the edge of the airport land — and the seed of a much larger park idea.

What we love:
Recreation & Sport · Parks & Green Space · Community
Key issues:
Parks & Recreation · Development · Environment
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Pico Neighborhood

One of the city's most historically rooted and diverse neighborhoods, centered along Pico Boulevard east of Lincoln.

What we love:
Community · Diversity · Historic Places
Key issues:
Housing · Development · Environment
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Sunset Park

The southeastern residential neighborhood surrounding the college and the airport, with single-family streets and local schools.

What we love:
Neighborhoods · Parks & Green Space · Education
Key issues:
Development · Environment · Transportation
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Downtown Residential

The growing residential population living within the downtown core, above shops and beside transit.

What we love:
Walkability · Restaurants & Cafés · Public Spaces
Key issues:
Housing · Public Safety · Public Space
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What we value

  • Free open space
  • Youth and senior programs
  • Mature trees

Improving something shouldn't mean losing what people already love about it.

Challenges

  • Maintenance backlogs (community concern — not verified data)
  • Uneven access by neighborhood (community concern — not verified data)

Ideas & opportunities

  • New park space
  • Programming partnerships
  • Shared school-yard access

Related projects

No projects or initiatives have been linked to Parks & Recreation yet.