In our neighborhood, children don't get to play in parks. Instead, families set up kiddie pools between their cars so their kids can cool down on hot weekends and summer days. Many of them can see the Alta Loma Elementary playground right across the street, sitting vacant and unused, locked behind a gate. Mid-City children already struggled to find spaces of their own. During the pandemic, not having a park or playground in their community hurt their physical and mental health even more. We have to do something!
Our communities lack safe park space close to our homes. As a result, most children have to walk over a mile to get to the nearest playground, crossing bustling parts of Washington, Venice, and Pico Boulevards. With many of their parents and guardians working well into the weekends, sometimes they even have to do this alone. It's just not safe.
Mid-City needs a local park that encourages exercise and provides physical space for the community to gather, grow, and prosper. Unfortunately, kids today are spending only an average of eight minutes outside a day. Elementary school playgrounds such as the one at Alta Loma Elementary are a perfect solution for community parks. Students could even take enrichment classes with their families on the weekends. Imagine having family yoga, cooking, or English classes right in our neighborhood!
Join us in urging LAUSD and the city of Los Angeles to open Alta Loma Elementary playground and other school playgrounds on the weekends as community parks. We have so many great partners already! Currently, Ready To Help Mutual Aid Community Network is working to bring more park space, playgrounds, and greenery to Mid-City -- particularly to historically low-income areas whose communities have long been under-resourced.
Please join us in urging the LA Recreation and Parks Department, Los Angeles City Council, and the Los Angeles Unified School District to open the Alta Loma Elementary playground and other school playgrounds around Los Angeles for open space on weekends and in the summer! As an Alta Loma fifth-grader told us, "I would like [Alta Loma] to become a park because when you're done working and stuff, you can go play and have fun. If you have brothers and sisters, it would be fun for your brothers and sisters to play together. Your mom or dad could come and have fun too!"
Let's make it happen for all these children and Mid-City families. Sign the petition now!
Thank you.
Ready to Help
https://www.readytohelpla.org/Help our community grow. Follow us on social media: @Readytohelpla
