National Parks Service May Seek to Manage L.A. Coastline
By Laurel Busby
News & Information Editor
Should the Los Angeles coast become part of the national park system? The National Park Service is requesting the public’s input on the idea.
The coastal area under consideration for national park status stretches from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach, and also travels inland along Ballona Creek to Baldwin Hills, according to a map in a NPS newsletter (available as a pdf linked at the bottom of this webpage).
To consider the proposal, NPS is conducting a special resource study of the L.A. coastline as required by Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Section 634, according to a NPS webpage on the project.
“The purpose of this special resource study is to gather information about select sites along the Los Angeles coast through research and public input, and then to report these findings to Congress,” according to the webpage. “The special resource study will evaluate the potential for inclusion of the Los Angeles coast in the national park system based upon whether it meets established criteria for significance, suitability, feasibility, and the need for NPS management.”
On Feb. 11, NPS held a virtual meeting about the proposal; a recording is available here. A second virtual meeting is scheduled for March 11 at 6 p.m. The webinar link is available here, or callers may phone (202) 640-1187 and use conference ID: 362420885#.
Through April 6, NPS is accepting public comments at this link with a focus on 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?
