National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
February 2026
Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study Newsletter The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to
announce the launch of a special resource study of the
Los Angeles coastal area in California. W e would like
to share information about the study process and seek
your input in evaluating the study area as a potential
unit of the National Park System.
Public Law 117-328 directs the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study of “the
coastline and adjacent areas to the Santa Monica
Bay from Will Rogers State Beach to T orrance Beach,
including the areas in and around Ballona Creek and
the Baldwin Hills and the San Pedro section of the
city of Los Angeles, excluding the Port of Los Angeles
north of Crescent Avenue.” The National Park Service
is preparing this study on behalf of the Secretary .
Through a study process, the National Park Service will determine whether any resources in the study area meet
the criteria for inclusion in the National Park System.
The study findings and any recommendations by the
Secretary of the Interior will then be submitted to
Congress for its consideration for further action.
New NPS units can only be established by
an act of Congress or by presidential proclamation.
Los Angeles Coastal Area
Special Resource Study
California
How to Participate
W e encourage you to learn more about the special
resource study process and to share your ideas.
Here are some ways to do so:
• Visit the study website:
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/LosAngelesCoastal
• Share your thoughts and feedback by
commenting on the study questions posted to
the above website during the open comment
period of February 5 through April 6, 2026.
The study questions are also listed on the last
page of this newsletter.
• Attend a virtual public meeting on
February 11 or March 11, 2026, to learn about
the study . (See the website above for meeting
information.)
• Submit comments by mail to:
National Park Service
Denver Service Center
Attn: Los Angeles Coastal SRS
One Denver Federal Center, Building 50
Denver, CO 80225
What is a special resource study?
A special resource study evaluates the eligibility of
an area to be designated as a national park or other
special designation. The National Park Service collects and evaluates information about the resources in
the study area. If the resources meet the criteria for
national significance and suitability, the National Park Service evaluates the potential for visitor enjoyment and analyzes the feasibility and appropriateness of different management options compared to existing management.
The study findings and any recommendations will then
be submitted to Congress for consideration. Regardless of the outcome of the study, new units of the national park system can only be established by an act of Congress or by presidential proclamation.
How will the Los Angeles coastal area
be evaluated?
Title 54 United States Code 100507 and NPS
Management Policies 2006 established the process for
conducting studies of potential new national park units.
Resources in a study area must meet all four of the
following criteria to be recommended as an addition to
the National Park System.
1. National significance: Contains nationally
significant natural and/or cultural resources.
2. Suitability: Represents a natural or cultural resource that is not already adequately represented in
the National Park System or is not comparably
represented and protected for public enjoyment by
another land-managing entity .
3. Feasibility: Must be (1) of sufficient size and
appropriate configuration to ensure long-term
protection of the resources and visitor enjoyment,
and (2) capable of efficient administration by the
National Park Service at a reasonable cost. Important
feasibility factors include landownership, acquisition
costs, maintenance costs, access, threats to the
resource, and staff or development requirements.
4. Direct NPS management: Requires direct NPS
management that is clearly superior to other
management approaches.
How will this study affect local communities
and private property?
If the study’s analysis identifies resources that meet
all four of the required criteria listed above, for those resources the National Park Service will only analyze
potential management scenarios that respect and retain
the authorities of the local government and private
property owners. The National Park Service seeks to
work collaboratively with individuals, landowners, local communities, and agencies and to learn their input,
desires, and/or concerns to inform the study’s analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the National Park Service
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. The National Park Service is a bureau within the US Department of the Interior and manages more than 400 park units that comprise the National Park System. Administration of park units occurs in many ways, from traditional units that are federally managed to nontraditional units that rely on partnerships and may have little, if any, federal landownership.
Public
input and
research
NPS
analysis
Report to
Congress
2 Baldw in Hills
0 5 Kilometers
0 5 Miles
N orth
Preliminary st udy area under ev aluat ion*
Ballona Creek
Pacific Ocean
W ill Rogers
State B each
Los Angeles Coastal Area
Special Resource Study
National Park Serv ice
U.S. Department of the Interior
Preliminary Study Area Under Evaluation
Ballona Creek and
surrounding area
Los Angeles coastline
San Pedro coastline
T orrance Beach
Santa Monica
Mount ains NRA
Santa Monica
San Pedro
Los Angeles
T orrance
405
1 05
405
10 110
*D u e t o m a p s c a l e l i m i t a t i o n s , t h e s i z e a n d p r e c i s e location of the study area boundaries are approximate
About the Study Area
As directed by the study legislation (Public
Law 117-328), this study area consists of
the Los Angeles coastline from Will Rogers
State Beach to T orrance Beach and the San
Pedro coastline. It also includes the areas in
and around Ballona Creek and the Baldwin
Hills. Coastline areas are interpreted as the
area from the mean high tide line of the
sea to approximately 200 yards inland from
the mean high tide line. The National Park
Service will evaluate these resources to see if
they meet the study criteria.
Pacific Ocean
3 We are particularly interested to hear your thoughts and ideas about the following questions:
1. What are the nationally significant cultural resources in the study area that should be managed and protected by
the National Park Service?
2. What are the nationally significant natural resources in the study area that should be managed and protected by
the National Park Service?
3. What role, if any, would you like the National Park
Service to serve in the management of resources in the
study area?
4. What concerns do you have that the National Park
Service should be aware of and/or address in the study
process?
5. Do you have other comments you would like to share
with us?
You may submit feedback in the following ways:
Online during the open comment period of
February 5 through April 6, 2026.
Visit the study website
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/LosAngelesCoastal
and click the “Open for Comment” link to enter your
responses to the above questions.
By postal mail to:
National Park Service
Denver Service Center
Attn: Los Angeles Coastal SRS
One Denver Federal Center, Building 50
Denver, CO 80225
Point of contact: Sarah Bodo, [email protected]
Project Manager, National Park Service, Denver Service Center Thank you for your interest in this study!
Share Your Thoughts and Comments
4