County leaders met at Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Park earlier this week with a stark message on the table: not all green space in Los Angeles County is actually cool. A new University of California, Irvine study has found striking temperature gaps between parks, with some South L.A. playground surfaces so hot they can cause pain, pushing officials to talk shade, trees and field redesigns to keep neighborhoods from overheating.
According to UC Irvine, parks and open spaces in South Los Angeles averaged about 105.8°F during summer daytime conditions, compared with roughly 91.6°F in West Los Angeles. Researchers report that more than a third of South L.A. parks hit or exceeded the surface temperature associated with the human thermal pain threshold. The analysis, which uses ECOSTRESS satellite imagery, appears in the journal npj Urban Sustainability.
County moves from plan to action
In February, the Board of Supervisors signed off on a County Heat Action Plan that prioritizes cooler outdoor spaces, heat‑resilient buildings and expanded outreach to residents most at risk. ‘The County Heat Action Plan is a call to action,’ said Rita Kampalath, the county’s chief sustainability officer, in the county’s announcement, adding that success depends on departments and partners pulling in the same direction. L.A. County spelled out those goals in a media statement.
Officials on the ground at Magic Johnson Park
County officials and community partners gathered at Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Park on Sunday for a Take Action LA event focused on turning the UCI data into on‑the‑ground fixes. The county Department of Mental Health listed the gathering on its calendar, and a brief segment from CBS Los Angeles highlighted the study and the county’s emerging plans around heat safety. LACDMH and CBS captured the event.
Design choices, not just weather, drive the gap
Researchers trace the temperature divide back to park design. South L.A. sites were far more likely to be paved or covered in artificial turf and rubberized play surfaces, while West L.A. parks tended to feature natural turf and more mature tree cover. That mix, along with fewer green acres per resident and more heat‑trapping materials, creates what the study’s authors describe as a ‘double burden’ for underserved neighborhoods. UC Irvine researchers say targeted design changes could turn parks back into cooling assets instead of hot spots.
Money, mapping and what comes next
Planners and advocates point out that funding and data tools are already in play to steer investments toward the hottest communities. Measure A parks grants and county programs have begun flowing to high‑need neighborhoods this year. Earlier reporting noted that the county has earmarked roughly $78 million for parks projects aimed at communities with the greatest need, a pot officials say can be used for shade structures, new trees and turf replacements. Those grants, the outlet notes, will be paired with the county’s heat‑mapping work to prioritize which projects move first.
Resources for staying safe this summer
The county says it plans to expand cooling centers and public outreach ahead of the hottest months and offers an interactive map to help residents locate cooling sites and other heat resources. If you or someone you care for does not have air conditioning, the Ready LA County Excessive Heat page lists cooling centers and safety tips, and 2‑1‑1 LA County can help identify nearby services. For official information, see Ready LA County…