Park Your Revenue Problem Elsewhere : More income is fine, but L.A. must keep in mind the role of these special spaces in city life

Los Angeles is, in recreational parlance, “park-deficient.” It has less municipal parkland, per capita, than any other major city in California--only 13,000 acres for about 3.5 million residents. Many gyms and athletic fields are occupied almost continuously from opening to closing during weekends, picnic areas are booked weeks in advance and playgrounds teem with children.

The City of Los Angeles is also revenue-deficient. The budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year is projected at $200 million or more. To add to the pressure, Mayor Richard Riordan is trying to fulfill a campaign promise to hire more police officers. As part of that effort, he and Steven L. Soboroff, president of the Recreation and Parks Commission, are seeking to maximize income from parkland. Increased park revenues would be allocated to cover a larger share of park expenses, presumably freeing up city treasury money that could go into police hiring.

In general, the park changes under consideration make sense. However, officials must keep in mind that just as important as new revenues are the maintenance, improvement, services and over-all quality of Los Angeles’ parks as public places.

Soboroff, innovation-minded and enthusiastic, is reviewing leases with the 56 licensed concessions that now operate out of the parks. These run the gamut, from hot dog stands to sizable firms that offer tennis or golf lessons and operate pro shops. His goal is to raise the relatively low rents they pay to the city to nearer market levels. This review is long overdue, but Soboroff should hold to his commitment that higher rents not translate into higher costs passed along to park users and that additional public revenue generated at the parks stay there. Otherwise, the changes might be self-defeating for the city. (Last summer Los Angeles County imposed admission charges at its public pools, but understandable fierce opposition from residents forced officials to quickly rescind the fees.) The commission might also add concessions in some facilities. If it does so, it must be mindful of its primary responsibility: to enhance the parks as green places, not as amusement parks. Some parks may accommodate more attractions; at others, new driving ranges, tennis lessons or pony rides would increase the already heavy burden on open space and bare-bones services.

Parks are precious community assets. Their value to city neighborhoods--and all of Los Angeles--far surpasses the number of dollars they generate.