The city is moving to dramatically expand its park system with a new vision plan that could more than double available parkland over the coming decades, replacing a nearly 30-year-old master plan with an ambitious ‘City as Habitat’ framework.
The 2025 Parks and Recreation Vision Plan, presented to the Planning Commission this month, calls for adding 134 to 165 acres of new parkland to the current 144-acre system — a potential increase of up to 115% to better serve the city's dense population.
"My recommendation based on all these considerations is that we want to target a number beyond the foreseeable future that aligns with the city's priorities and initiatives," said Tony Lopez, the city's senior park planner. "I don't think in the history of Santa Monica we've ever felt that we are average."
Santa Monica currently provides just 1.55 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, well below the Los Angeles County average of 3.3 acres and national recommendations of 6 to 10 acres per 1,000 residents for cities of similar size.
The shortfall is particularly acute given that 71% of Santa Monica residents live in multi-family housing without yards, according to a recent community survey that drew more than 1,600 participants.
Community Demand Drives Planning
The comprehensive community assessment revealed strong support for expanding the park system, with walking trails and loops topping residents' wish lists, followed by community parks, large regional parks and neighborhood parks. A new aquatic facility and community gardens also ranked high among priorities.
Lopez noted that the assessment confirmed the city needs more park acreage and amenities, though residents appreciate existing programming.
The plan's ‘City as Habitat’ vision represents an evolution from the 1997 plan's ‘City as Park’ concept, emphasizing habitat creation for people, plants and animals while supporting the city's climate goals.
Ambitious Actions, Steep Costs
The vision plan outlines 32 specific actions organized under eight principles, ranging from enhancing existing parks to creating entirely new parkland through innovative approaches.
Key proposals include expanding Memorial Park by 2.9 acres, studying the feasibility of capping sections of Interstate 10 to create park space above the freeway, and establishing "park streets" by removing vehicular traffic from select street segments in each neighborhood.
The plan also calls for evaluating the potential conversion of Santa Monica Airport's 192 acres for park use, which could significantly boost the city's park inventory if the airport closes as planned.
However, the expansion comes with substantial financial commitments. A recent parks condition assessment estimated $42 million in maintenance costs over five years for existing facilities alone, with additional 10-year and 20-year costs of $30 million and $24 million respectively.
The costs could "increase exponentially if not addressed," with amenity lifespans decreasing due to overuse, according to the plan.
Commissioners Raise Key Concerns
Planning commissioners raised several important considerations during the study session, including how to balance parkland acquisition with housing needs in a city facing a severe affordability crisis.
Commissioner Shawn Landres questioned how the plan would accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality goals, suggesting stronger ties between specific actions and climate targets.
Commissioner Nina Fresco highlighted social justice concerns, noting that some areas of the city remain severely park-deficient. "I think we always have a tendency to do that with the problem of the day and I just want to remind us all to remember to always think holistically about all of our problems including housing and the airport and everything else," Fresco said. "All of these things have to fit holistically into the long-term function of our city."
The commissioners also discussed innovative approaches like encouraging community gardens and open space in new housing developments through zoning incentives, and utilizing underused medians and parkways for community amenities.
Next Steps
The plan will move through additional city commissions over the coming weeks, including the Arts Commission and Santa Monica Aquatics Advisory Committee, before reaching the City Council for potential adoption on October 28.
The seven-year planning process, which began in 2018 but was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, represents one of the most comprehensive updates to the city's parks strategy since the original master plan nearly three decades ago.
If adopted, the vision plan would guide park development and maintenance decisions for the next 25 years, positioning Santa Monica to significantly expand recreational opportunities for its approximately 93,000 residents.