City Council
2025 Parks & Recreation
Vision Plan
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
• Recommended Actions
• Review the 2025 Parks & Recreation Vision Plan (PRVP) • Review comments and staff recommendations
Purpose of Today's Meeting
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption
pursuant to Section 15262 of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines; and
2. Receive and approve the 2025 Parks and
Recreation Vision Plan.
Recommended Actions
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
We did it!
The update to the 1997 Parks and
Recreation Master Plan began in 2018.
• 2018-2019 outreach reached 2,000+
participants
• 2020 Draft paused due to Covid-19
Pandemic
• 2024-2025 outreach to committees,
commissions, and neighborhoods
• 2025 CoSM Community Interest and
Opinion Survey (Community Recreation
and Arts Needs Assessment and Level of
Service)
• 2025 Draft live in July 2025 for public
comment, including 10 public meetings
www.santamonica.gov/parks-and-recreation-vision-plan
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Where are we
Now?
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Network Refresher
• Approximately 144 park acres
• 1.55 acres / 1,000 residents (93,076 pop.)
• 72% live within ½ mile of a park
• County average 3.3 acres / 1,000 residents
• County average is 49% living with a ½ mile of a park
• 2016 LA Countywide Parks and Recreation
Needs Assessment defines Santa Monica as
Moderate in terms of overall park need
• Acreage + distance to parks + population served
• 2022 Needs Assessment Plus notes many
neighborhoods in Santa Monica in need of
regional serving recreation
Graphic from Countywide Parks Needs Assessment Interactive Map Viewer Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Where we left off
• The 1997 Parks and Recreation Master Plan
recommended a targeted growth of park
acreage from 112.7 park acres to a range of
143.8 – 170 park acres.
• In 2025, park acreage is 144.
• The Summer 2025 public outreach
roadshow helped establish this Plan’s
recommendation for a new goal.
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
What is the
2025 Vision??
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
City as Habitat
A Vision for nourishing habitat for people, plants, animals, and program, continuing the City’s commitment in striving to
prevent harm to the natural environment and human health.
A Vision that addresses community open space need through acquisition, expansion, and improvements, enhancing resilience and reinforcing sustainability initiatives.
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
• Act in support of Water Self-sufficiency,
Zero Waste, Carbon Neutrality
• Enable open space to grow with the City
• Position the City to respond quickly
and responsibly to opportunities that
enhance our parks as settings for habitat
• Maintain open dialogue with the
community on nature advocacy
• Reaffirm the Sustainable Rights Ordinance
City as Habitat Goals
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
The Plan Structure
User friendly
Chapter 1: Vision & Network
Chapter 2: Community Voices
Chapter 3: Actions
Chapter 4: Implementation
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Vision & Network: Park Inventory
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Community Voices
• 2018-2019: 2,000 + participants
• 2025 survey: 600+ participants
• 96% of respondents visit a parks, arts, or recreation facility in a typical year (81% national average)
• 49% of respondents participate in a city program in
a typical year (36% national average)
• Safety
• Top program priorities
• Arts and culture events
• City-sponsored events
• Beach House events
• Top priorities
• Walking loops/trails
• Community parks
• Large regional parks
• Neighborhood parks
• Aquatics facility
• Pocket Parks
• Community gardens
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
8 Principles
5 Strategies
32 Actions
Act on
the
Vision!
8 Principles
1. NOURISH Existing Parks & Park Facilities
2. EXPAND New Park Land & Open Space
3. RAISE New Park Facilities
4. IDEATE Santa Monica State Beach
5. CONNECT Open Space & The Community
6. GATHER Recreation & Arts Programming
7. SUSTAIN Parks & Facilities Sustainability & Maintenance
8. SUPPORT Funding & Meaningful Partnerships
5 Strategies
1. Strengthen Access to Parks, Facilities, and the Beach
2. Rethink Streets with Park Potential
3. Foster Social Interaction
4. Optimize Existing Parks and Beach Experiences
5. Create New Park Land
Actions
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
City as Habitat - Actions at a glance
• The Vision
• Reaffirming the Sustainable Rights Ordinance and advancing, through actions, citywide goals to achieve water self-sufficiency, zero waste, and carbon neutrality.
• Action 1.1.3
• Demonstrate potential to increase species biodiversity and canopy coverage, in accordance with the Urban Forest Master Plan, in existing parks and open spaces.
• Action 1.2.2
• Develop a CIP Refurbishment Plan to address maintenance of high-use amenities, including general site components, and determine opportunities to integrate sustainable alternatives. • Action 2.1.8
• Integrate cultural landscapes within new parks and identify opportunities to expand restoration, preservation, and rewilding.
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
How do we
implement the Vision?
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Implementation
City as
Habitat
What
amenities
make up our
inventory
What does it
cost to
maintain that
inventory
What are the
gaps in our
level of
service
How do we
pay for what
we need
The 2025 PRVP defines the
implementation process
• Define our inventory
• Determine costs to maintain our
inventory
• Identify gaps in level of service
(amenity, hours of service, and
acreage)
• Daylight a need for funding streams
to address the gaps
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
What does it cost to maintain the inventory
Existing Amenities and Components Action Matrix
• Interdepartmental collaboration
• Defines 5/10/20-year work plans
• Community benefit prioritization
• Estimated and exponential costs
• Example: 5-year work plan for playground maintenance
- $2.8m
• Approach allows for flexibility
• Does not include administration and assumes
staffing requirements are met
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
• CoSM stands at half the County
Average of park acres per 1,000.
• To meet the County Average, 134
additional park acres are needed in
2025.
• To meet 5-year population
projection, 165 additional park acres
are needed.
Determining Level of Service - Acres
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Level of Service & Acreage Considerations
• CoSM: 1.55 acres/1,000 residents
• County assessment classification of ‘moderate’ park need with many areas of the city at high/very high need • Classification based on acreage + population + distance to parks • County average: 3.3 acres/1,000 residents
• Determining the county average does not include the beach, only parks, as not all cities in the county have a beach. • Common planning standard: 5.0 acres/1,000
• 2025 NRPA recommendation: 6-10 park acres / 1,000 residents. • The NRPA does include the beach as it provides for recreation • Adding the SM State Beach acreage of 202.9 acres to the current inventory of 144.31 would bring the CoSM average to
3.72 acres/1,000. (1.55 + 2.17)
• Adding all 192 acres of SMO to the current inventory of 144.31 acres would bring the CoSM’s average to 3.61 acres/1,000. (1.55 + 2.06)
• “Park and recreation agencies are as diverse as the communities they serve, what works well for one agency may not be best for all”.
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Funding Sources
• General Fund
• CIP
• Bi-annually.
• Varies per project.
• General Fund allocation.
• Park Improvement Program (a CIP)
• $250k/annually
• Development Impact Fee
• Expansion or acquisition of parkland.
• Amount based on development project.
• Uncommitted balance as of January 2025 - $875,440.
• Grant Funding
• Measure A allocation approximately $300,000
annually.
• Balance as of July 2025 - $1.6m.
• Measure A M/S annual allocation approx. $91k
• Balance as of July 2025 - $742,475.
• CDBG grant matching.
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
The Vision is Actionable
In 2025 and 2026 we are tracking various
grant funding sources.
• Prop 4 Statewide Park Program
• Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership
• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• California Wildlife Conservation Board
• California Natural Resources Agency
• Urban Greening
• Youth Community Access
• Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation
Program
• Measure A Competitive Grant Cycle
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
What have we
heard in this process?
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
The Public Roadshow
Comments
• Integrate 2025 City Council priorities
• 5.0 park acres/1,000 (not including the
beach acreage)
• Level of Service and how we compare
• More pickleball, courts and fields to accommodate
tournaments, and a city-owned aquatics facility
• Increasing overall feeling of safety at parks,
recreation and arts facilities
• Bringing CAAP actions forward
• Prioritizing accessibility to and through parks
• Natural grass and phasing out artificial turf
• Attachment K “2025 Parks and Recreation Vision
Plan Staff Recommended Edits”
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Natural Grass and
Artificial Turf at City-Owned
Sports Fields
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Proposed Policy for City-Owned Sports Fields*
• No new City-owned artificial turf sports fields will be installed in the City of Santa Monica • Existing City-owned grass fields will be maintained as grass fields • Existing City-owned artificial turf fields will be maintained and replaced as artificial turf fields
• The City will explore options to work with independent and industry experts to develop a request for information for artificial turf and durable natural alternative materials that continue to meet the City’s needs for environmental and human health, safety, playability, maintenance, and cost
*This proposed policy would not apply to any public agencies or private entity, other than the City of Santa Monica. It would not be applicable to any public school, private school, or school district (either in relation to fields, properties, or facilities).
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Existing Sports Field Inventory
Diamond Sports Fields (11)
• Baseball (7)
• Los Amigos Park (1)
• Gandara Park (1)
• Memorial Park (3)
• Clover Park (1)
• Marine Park (1)
• Softball (4)
• Memorial Park (3)
• Marine Park (1)
• Clover (informal use)
Rectangular Sports Fields (2)
• Historic Belmar Park*
• Airport Park*
• Gandara Park (informal use)
• Clover Park (informal use)
• Marine Park (informal use)
*Artificial Turf
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Grass and Artificial Turf Sports Fields
Grass Sports Fields
• Natural materials
• Lower surface temperatures
• Lower up-front installation cost and
replacement cost (if needed)
• Relatively high impact absorption
• Water use mitigated with surplus of the
City’s advanced treated recycled water
• Higher maintenance demands, including
mowing, fertilizing, irrigation, aerating,
resting, and sports lines
• Prone to closure due to weather
Artificial Turf Sports Fields
• Consistent ‘all weather’ playing surface
• Higher surface temperatures mitigated
with watering fields if needed
• Infill material and synthetic turf materials
• Higher up-front installation cost and
replacement costs
• Lower maintenance demands, but
requires specialized equipment for
grooming, cleaning, infill replacement. and
trained specialists for repairs
• Relatively high impact absorption with
appropriate underlayment
• Increased friction requiring appropriate
footwear to decrease lower extremity
injury
• End of life disposal may be mitigated with
recyclable materials
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Boards and Commissions
Recreation and Parks Commission
• No new City owned artificial turf sports
fields will be installed in the City of Santa
Monica
• Existing grass fields will be maintained as
grass fields
• Existing two artificial turf fields will be
replaced as artificial turf fields, unless
grass fields can be installed without
decreasing capacity
• The City will explore options to work with
independent and industry experts and
develop a request for information for
sustainable artificial turf and natural
alternative materials that continue to
meet the City’s needs for environmental
and human health, safety, playability,
maintenance, and cost
Commission on Sustainability, Environmental
Justice and the Environment
• Do not support the use of artificial turf
• No new City-owned artificial turf sports
fields will be installed in the City of Santa
Monica
• Existing City-owned grass fields will be
maintained as grass fields
• When existing artificial turf fields reach the
end of their useful life the City will go out to
bid to replace them with durable, natural
alternative grass materials that meet the
City’s needs
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Proposed Policy for City-Owned Sports Fields*
• No new City-owned artificial turf sports fields will be installed in the City of Santa Monica • Existing City-owned grass fields will be maintained as grass fields • Existing City-owned artificial turf fields will be maintained and replaced as artificial turf fields
• The City will explore options to work with independent and industry experts to develop a request for information for artificial turf and durable natural alternative materials that continue to meet the City’s needs for environmental and human health, safety, playability, maintenance, and cost
*This proposed policy would not apply to any public agencies or private entity, other than the City of Santa Monica. It would not be applicable to any public school, private school, or school district (either in relation to fields, properties, or facilities).
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
City as Habitat
Enable open space to grow with the City
Position the City to respond quickly and responsibly to opportunities that enhance our parks as settings for habitat Support Water Self-sufficiency, Zero Waste, Carbon Neutrality Maintain open dialogue with the community on nature advocacy Reaffirm the Sustainable Rights Ordinance
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15262 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Receive and approve the 2025 Parks and Recreation Vision Plan.
Recommended Actions
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
City Council
2025 Parks & Recreation
Vision Plan
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026
Item 11-C
January 27, 2026