Pictured left: Clement Lau and his daughter posing for a photo at Descanso Gardens, one of the most popular botanical gardens in Southern California.

2020 has been a challenging year in so many ways. Due to the pandemic, our personal and professional lives have changed. We have been forced to adapt and come to terms with how much we have taken for granted — our family, friends, co-workers, daily routines, recreational activities and just the simple things around us. And, regrettably, some of us have had to endure the loss of a loved one, a job and/or a home over the past few months.

While it would be easy to just focus on the negatives, I am choosing to share the positives, especially with Thanksgiving fast approaching. Thanksgiving is unequivocally my favorite holiday because it prompts me to think about and remember how blessed I am. And I believe that it is good for my soul to give thanks in all circumstances and reflect upon what I am thankful for. Here is my gratitude list and perhaps you can relate to it.

New Facilities

Even COVID-19 could not stop us from celebrating the completion of various new park amenities in Los Angeles, California. One example is the fulfillment of Phase IA of the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park Master Plan, which offers South Los Angeles residents some of their most desired amenities: a 20,000-square foot event center to host conferences and other large gatherings, an outdoor wedding pavilion, a splash pad, children’s play areas, and a redesigned southern lake which has a half-mile walking trail, enhanced lighting and fitness equipment. Also noteworthy is the recent opening of a new pedestrian bridge which helped to complete the 13-mile Park to Playa Trail that connects the Baldwin Hills Parklands to the Pacific Ocean. The trail does not just physically connect various communities and parks to the ocean, it also offers residents opportunities to connect with nature and with each other.

Modified Programming

As a planner, I am not really involved in recreational programming. But I am proud to be a part of an innovative department — the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) — that is always seeking new ways to meet community needs. With the pandemic and associated public health orders limiting in-person gatherings, my department was unable to offer its highly popular, award-winning Parks After Dark (PAD) program this year as it had done since 2010. However, recognizing the needs and desires of community members to be physically active, DPR pivoted and initiated the PAD in Motion program, through which it closed off park-adjacent streets for residents to safely walk and ride. Specifically, this initiative provided residents — especially families with children — opportunities to walk and ride their bikes, scooters and skateboards along a designated route around and within their local park.

Continued Engagement

Just because we have not been able to conduct in-person meetings, it does not mean that we have stopped engaging with the communities we serve. On the contrary, we have proactively reached out to and communicated with the public, especially as we are seeking input for various new park projects that are in the works. We have hosted a number of online meetings using tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and have had fruitful dialogues with our constituents, as exemplified in this article which summarizes one of the community workshops held for the design of the proposed Primmer Park in the community of Littlerock.  

Meaningful Projects

I am thankful that I get to work on very meaningful and impactful projects. One that we completed earlier this year pertains to the nationwide 10 Minute Walk Campaign, which seeks to ensure that the public has safe, convenient access to quality parks within a 10-minute walk of home. Specifically, we focused on improving park access in the community of West Athens-Westmont (see An Intentional Collision) and produced an informative video as one of the project deliverables. I was also glad to be part of the process of developing the visionary Master Plan for Descanso Gardens, one of the most popular gardens in Southern California. Additionally, I am excited to be working on an update to the 2016 Countywide Parks Needs Assessment, which focuses on the park needs of rural communities and the need for regional facilities like beaches, regional parks, open space and natural areas, and trails.

Time with Family Outdoors

As a park planner, I know and write often about the importance of parks and the vital benefits they offer. With the pandemic, my appreciation for parks has actually grown even greater. I experience much joy whenever my family and I venture out to a park for a walk or just to kick the soccer ball around. Even with the inconvenience and discomfort of wearing a face covering and physical distancing, we have enjoyed our recent trips to parks, beaches and gardens. We are fortunate to have easy access to these wonderful outdoor destinations in our region.  

Writing for Fun

A key benefit of staying home a lot is that I have had more time to jot down my ideas and thoughts. Thus, this has been one of my most productive years as a writer. Specifically, earlier this year, I wrote an article offering my perspective on the pandemic which is published on both NRPA’s Open Space blog and Parks & Recreation magazine. I also authored a sidebar to the American Planning Association’s Planning Magazine regarding the importance of being able to walk to a nearby park for one’s physical and mental health and well-being. In addition, I had the opportunity to contribute to an article in POLITICO Magazine which discusses a number of ways to redesign the world for coronavirus and beyond; see #6 – Bring parks to people. 

Support from NRPA

I want to share my appreciation for the ways that NRPA has supported all of us park and recreation professionals. I appreciate the regular updates and practical guidance on the website, which was particularly helpful when I was researching re-opening protocols for various park amenities. I have also been encouraged and inspired by stories in Parks & Recreation magazine which explain how park and recreation professionals around the country have been coping with the pandemic and continuing to meet community needs creatively and courageously.

Final Thoughts

This has been a difficult year. However, even in the midst of the pandemic and associated challenges, I think most of us can still find reasons to be thankful. Let’s adopt an attitude of gratitude, take care of ourselves and our loved ones, and continue to serve our communities to the best of our ability.

Clement Lau, AICP, DPPD, is a Departmental Facilities Planner with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.