The Citywide Parks Master Plan is an update of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP), originally adopted in 1997. The 1997 Plan set forth strategies, goals, and a vision for Santa Monica’s park and recreation system over the next 20 years. Many of the 1997 PRMP’s strategies were accomplished, but the remaining initiatives in combination with the growing need for open space necessitate a broad analysis of parks and recreation facilities, programming usage, and innovative funding strategies.

The overall goal of the Plan update is to establish a framework for long-range guidance and planning of parks, open space, beach, and community recreation for the next 20 years. The Plan aims to attract broad public outreach from Santa Monica’s diverse community to develop the vision, goals, and objectives. Opportunities for community engagement include pop-ups across the city, community workshops, and an online map-based survey. The updated PRMP is forward thinking document that builds upon the legacy of Santa Monica’s stewardship of its parks, beach, and recreational facilities. It will identify opportunities for preserving this legacy while directing the future creation of new opportunities to meet the needs of the community. It will provide the City and community with a road map for enhancing the City’s park system through best management practices, funding options, programmatic trends that support creative use of parks and responsive urban design.

The final plan was completed in spring 2020.

As City Urban Designer for Santa Monica, Alan Loomis is the primary urban designer on the City’s “Parks and Recreation Master Plan” project team.