Can you believe that it is October already? With 2019 arriving in less than three months, I would like to highlight twelve events that planners, architects, and landscape architects can look forward to in the new year. [Read more…] about Looking Ahead to 2019: Events for Planners
Can you believe that it is almost the middle of December already? Well, it is that time of the year again when many of us think about giving and receiving presents. I previously shared some ideas on the perfect gifts for planners, architects, landscape architects, and other related professionals in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 which have turned out to be a few of my most read articles. I am glad to know that my lists have been helpful (and perhaps entertaining?) to some planners and/or fans of planners. Without further ado, here is my 2017 edition of Presents for Plannerds: [Read more…] about Presents for Plannerds: 2017 Edition
Can you believe that it is December already? Well, it is that time of year again when we think about giving and receiving presents. I previously shared some ideas on the perfect gifts for planners in Presents for Plannerds, Presents for Plannerds: 2014 Edition, and Presents for Plannerds: 2015 Edition which have turned out to be three of my most read articles. I am glad to know that my lists have been helpful to some planners and/or fans of planners. Many of the products I mentioned in the past few years are still available, but I would like to highlight a few new items that I learned about this year. Without further ado, here is my 2016 edition of Presents for Plannerds: [Read more…] about Presents for Plannerds: 2016 Edition
How many acres of parkland does Los Angeles County have? How many parks are there in the county and where are they all located? What amenities do these park offer and what condition are they in? Which communities have a high level of park need? What are the priority park projects in each city or unincorporated community? How much would it cost to make these projects happen? These are some of the key questions that are answered in the Los Angeles Countywide Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment recently released by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The Parks Needs Assessment was completed in 15 months, starting in March 2015 and ending in May 2016. [Read more…] about Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment: The L.A. County Story
When I tell people that I work for the Department of Parks and Recreation, many ask whether I watch the TV show Parks and Recreation. While I do enjoy the comedy series, I must say that doing “real life” parks and recreation planning is actually far more interesting and rewarding. Personally, I am motivated by the desire to help improve and expand recreational options for communities in need because I have experienced firsthand the many benefits of parks and recreational facilities. [Read more…] about Park Planning for Underserved Communities in Los Angeles County
What do people want? What do community members like or dislike? As planners, these are the types of questions we generally ask as part of any planning process. [Read more…] about Surveys: Finding Out What People Want
When I tell people that I work for the Department of Parks and Recreation, many ask whether I watch the TV show [Read more…] about Parks and Recreation: Not Just Fun and Games
I just attended my first American Planning Association (APA) National Planning Conference. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, this event was attended by over 5,000 planners and officials who took part in hundreds of workshops, sessions, and networking opportunities. I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and learned a great deal. [Read more…] about APA Conference: A Park Planner’s Perspective