LAUSD and RAP Greenlight Community School Parks Joint Powers Agreement Ahead of Schoolyear

A major milestone for park access in Los Angeles has been reached: the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has officially approved a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP). This agreement ensures that select schoolyards can serve as Community School Parks, open to the public on weekends, holidays, and school breaks.

The JPA creates a formal 10-year partnership, allowing RAP to manage recreational programming, provide supervision, and maintain the schoolyard spaces during community hours. For families across Los Angeles, this means safer, more reliable access to green space—right in their neighborhoods—without waiting years for new parks to be built.

This step is especially critical as nearly one-third of Angelenos still lack a park within walking distance. Until now, Community School Parks operated under short-term civic permits, which made expansion difficult and inconsistent. With a streamlined JPA in place, the program can now grow more sustainably and reach more park-deficient communities.

Already, Community School Parks have proven to be gathering places where children can play, families can relax, and neighbors can connect. By unlocking existing schoolyards, Los Angeles is addressing long-standing inequities in access to open space and investing directly in community health and well-being.

Looking ahead, the JPA lays the groundwork for opening dozens of additional Community School Parks citywide. This agreement represents more than just efficiency—it’s a commitment to reimagining how Los Angeles shares resources and ensures every resident, regardless of zip code, has access to safe, welcoming parks.