By Swe Swe Aye | Myanmar Gazette
In many low-income neighborhoods and communities of color across Los Angeles County, the dream of a safe, high-quality local park remains just that, a dream. Decades of disinvestment have created significant disparities in access to green space, leading to poorer health outcomes in areas struggling with high pollution and extreme heat.
The City and County of Los Angeles are attempting to address this historic inequity through initiatives like the LA Park Needs Assessment and Measure A funding. These efforts aim to improve park quality and facilitate future park planning with a focus on equity and resilience. For residents of park-poor communities, these policy shifts offer a beacon of hope for long-overdue change.
Reseda: High Need, High Hopes
Reseda, in the San Fernando Valley, is officially categorized as a “park-poor” area. The 2015 Los Angeles Park Needs Assessment gave the Reseda/West Van Nuys area a score of 96 (High Need), indicating a severe demand for more parks and better-maintained recreational services.
For residents like Saw Zan, 66, who has lived in Reseda for over 25 years, the need goes beyond simply having more park space—it’s about security and infrastructure.
“The first thing is to have a good security system in a park. I want a park to have security guards on duty, to keep an eye on the kids, the elderly, and the joggers,” Zan explains. “My main goal is to have 24/7 CCTV cameras everywhere and enough street lights at night so that everyone can feel safe.”
This focus on security is a direct response to real-world dangers, such as a recent fatal shooting at Panorama City Park, just seven miles away. Zan mentioned the February murder in Cerritos park and the recent discovery of a body in MacArthur Park Lake on September 1st. and September 1, 2025, a man’s body was removed from the lake at MacArthur Park.
Zan, a former lecturer at CSUN Department of Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Management, also emphasized solving the San Fernando Valley’s flooding issues in new park designs and ensuring clean drinking fountains are available.
Kyu Kyu, 69, a former Burmese university champion athlete, dreams of a park that prioritizes physical activity and senior well-being.
“I wanted a large area for jogging and a separate area for people with disabilities. We live in a senior apartment, so we wanted a nice park with trees for shade, and colorful flowers all year round to help us relieve the stress of our daily lives,” she says.
Zan echoed this vision, stressing the park’s role as a retreat for aging residents. “When we get old and have some kind of illness, we will come to the park to enjoy peace and quiet,” he noted, adding the necessity of a running track and benches along walking paths for those who tire easily, including those with conditions like Alzheimer’s.
Pacoima: Seeking Safety and Community Hubs
East of Reseda, the densely populated Pacoima is a “high park need” area, facing similar issues. Sandwiched between freeways, an airport, and pollution, decades of disinvestment there contribute to high asthma and childhood obesity rates.
Pacoima resident Htay Myint Soe shares a dream park vision focused on safety, cleanliness, and community amenities.
“We want the parks in Pacoima to have two main things: they’re clean and safe. We want the restrooms to be clean. We want the trash cans to be properly cleaned and cleaned on time. If those two things are met, then the third thing is that we want the parks in Pacoima to have gyms and fitness centers,” she states.
Soe’s vision is inspired by parks in wealthier areas, such as Garvey Ranch Park in Monterey Park, where she attends community events.
“There are community meeting rooms in the park… We can have private events, birthday parties, and anniversaries.”
Highlighting the value of amenities, Soe noted that the Monterey Park Historical Museum, located next to the park, fosters civic engagement. “Retired senior citizens like us volunteer there. When we volunteer, we meet people, and after work, we can walk in the park. I wish Pacoima had a park like that,” she notes, dreaming of a space that serves as both a recreational and cultural hub.
A Seat at the Planning Table
Local organizations are championing the resident-led push for change. Pacoima Beautiful, an environmental justice organization, is actively working on projects like the Bradley Green Alley Network and the Pacoima Wash Greenway, stressing that all solutions must be community-driven.
“We need targeted public investment in areas like the Northeast San Fernando Valley,” said Roxy Rivas, Deputy Director of Capital Projects and Planning. “Solutions include transforming underutilized spaces—like underutilized lots, or closed streets—into community parks and greenways. And perhaps most importantly, ensuring that community members have a real seat at the table when decisions are being made.”
As Los Angeles County refocuses on park equity, the hopes of residents like Saw Zan have soared. “I have more hope for our dream parks. I believe that if our dream parks can be realized, park equity will be sustainable for generations to come,” Zan concluded, reflecting a powerful optimism that this time, their community’s long-deferred dream will finally come true.
This story was produced by American Community Media in collaboration with the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS) at UCLA as part of the Greening American Cities initiative supported by the Bezos Earth Fund. Read more stories like this by visiting the Greening Communities homepage.
