La Verne consultants report strong park acreage baseline; outreach to shape master plan continues

The city’s parks and recreation master plan update is underway, and consultant KTUA told the council Monday that La Verne currently offers about 100 acres of city‑owned parkland across roughly 20 sites — a supply that yields about 3.78 acres per 1,000 residents and is close to the general plan target of 4 acres per 1,000.

“Based on these numbers, again, it's not black or white...you are almost at your goal and this is incredible,” consultant Jacob Leon said, summarizing the inventory and level‑of‑service analysis and noting that modest gaps may grow if population increases outpace additions to parkland.

KTUA and public works staff described the engagement program (500+ completed community surveys plus workshops and planned Fourth of July and National Night Out outreach) and said the team will use inventory and access analyses to craft recommendations that address accessibility, amenity gaps (courts/fields/playgrounds), and priorities for investment and maintenance.

Council members and public commenters urged particular attention to accessibility for older residents and people with disabilities, youth‑oriented facilities, and opportunities to acquire parkland or negotiate joint‑use agreements where possible; a public commenter urged the city to prioritize any possible site acquisition, including parcels connected to redevelopment proposals that could provide park relief for park‑deficient neighborhoods.

Staff said the project will return with draft recommendations in the fall and a final plan by December 2025.