Senate subcommittee hears $96.5M Exposition Park upgrade and debates funding for new Science Center wing
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Summary
Subcommittee 4 reviewed a $96.5 million governor’s request for Exposition Park deferred maintenance and a $1.7 million operational ask, and took testimony on the California Science Center’s new Air and Space Center—a $450 million public-private project—to discuss long-term operations funding and access concerns.
Chair Chatto convened Subcommittee 4 to hear budget proposals tied to Exposition Park and related institutions. Andrea Ambriz, General Manager of Exposition Park, told the panel the 160-acre state property in Los Angeles hosts museums, stadiums and schools and is preparing for the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. Ambriz said a governor’s proposal requests $96,500,000 ‘‘for utility replacement and site improvements’’ to address decades of deferred maintenance and to meet code and ADA standards.
Ambriz said the park currently attracts roughly 8 million annual visitors and is expected to reach about 10 million with new museum openings; the funding request would also support public-safety measures such as new bollards, fencing and gates. She described the request as about half of the capital work the park needs and said it stems from a recent, detailed study of hazards and liabilities.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (Brian Metzger) told the subcommittee the proposal ‘‘has merit’’ because it reduces safety hazards and litigation risk, but suggested legislators could consider downscaling some work if general‑fund pressures require tradeoffs. Department of Finance staff noted technical questions about progressive design-build authority.
The committee also considered two related Expo Park requests: $1,698,000 from the Exposition Park Improvement Fund to cover operational sustainability tied to higher visitation, and a separate item supporting the California Science Center’s new Air and Space Center. Jeff Rudolph, President and Director of the California Science Center, described the Air and Space Center as a nearly $450,000,000 project that includes the shuttle Endeavour ‘‘in launch position’’ and said the state contributed $80,000,000 while the remainder is being raised privately.
Several senators pressed whether admission fees or loan structures could offset state operating support. Vice Chair Nyilow and others proposed exploring loans repayable from earned revenues or modest fees; Rudolph and the LAO cautioned that admission charges could significantly reduce attendance and disproportionately impact nearby low‑income communities, noting past studies that suggested attendance could fall by up to about 50 percent if core admission were charged. Rudolph said the Science Center has deliberately maintained free general admission for educational access and that most capital funding for the new project was privately raised.
Senator Lola Smallwood Cuevas and Senator Cabaldon expressed support for the Exposition Park investments, emphasizing the park’s role as an accessible statewide resource and the urgency posed by upcoming events. The subcommittee held the Exposition Park items open for further consideration.