Arroyo River Parks: Restoring a Living River

Recent events have highlighted the importance of the Arroyo Seco stream and watershed to the Los Angeles River and all of Southern Californa. Here is the ideal template for responding to the the challenges of water resilience and climate change.

2023 presents an historic opportunity to restore and enhance the Arroyo Seco River. LA County and key local agencies and stakeholders are ready to move ahead with the long-delayed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Arroyo Seco Ecosystem Study, an unparalleled approach to nature-based solutions in Los Angeles County. The LA Fish Passage Program has decisively documented the critical importance of the Arroyo Seco for steelhead trout and other aquatic species in the Los Angeles River. And in the San Gabriel Mountains a comprehensive analysis of how to improve water management for people, fish and wildlife is underway. Attention is turning to the Arroyo Seco and its future.

Several years ago key stakeholders in the Arroyo Seco communities developed a guiding vision for this restoration — the Arroyo River Parks Program. Now it's time to renew and refresh that vision and make it a reality.

River Parks Vision

The goal of the Arroyo River Parks Program is to link existing parks and open spaces to each other and to the river. Rather than focusing on a few key sites along the 11-mile urbanized stream course, Arroyo River Parks is an approach that will integrate the more than 30 parks and open space linkages that line the concretized stream as part of a cohesive network supporting hydrological, ecological, and social connections — and emphasizing respect for place. Rather than just being parks that overlook a river, these parks and open spaces will be reconfigured as part of the river system.

We look forward to your involvement and support as we pursue this exciting opportunity for the restoration of the Arroyo Seco watershed.

Arroyo River Parks Principles

  • Integrate parks with the river and the river with the parks

  • Manage parks and open space to aid flood protection and water conservation and quality
  • Develop open space linkages for wildlife movement
  • Naturalize the stream and floodplain to restore riparian and aquatic habitat
  • Expand the trail network to connect parks, open spaces and cultural resources
  • Provide interpretative signage and educational programs to make the Arroyo an educational laboratory for Southern California

Preferred Projects

Key Parks

  1. Angeles National Forest, U.S. Forest Service
  2. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Pasadena
  3. Cherry Canyon Park, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
  4. Flint Canyon Wash, La Cañada Flintridge
  5. Upper Arroyo Park
  6. Brookside Golf Course, Pasadena
  7. Brookside Park, Pasadena
  8. Central Arroyo Living Stream
  9. Lower Arroyo Seco Nature Park, Pasadena
  10. Arroyo Park, South Pasadena
  11. San Pasqual Park, Los Angeles
  12. Arroyo Seco Golf Course, South Pasadena
  13. South Pasadena Woodland and Wildlife Park, South Pasadena
  14. Arroyo Seco Park, Los Angeles
  15. Hermon Dog Park, Los Angeles
  16. Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, Los Angeles
  17. Heidelberg Park, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
  18. Sycamore Grove Park, Los Angeles
  19. Montecito Heights Recreation Center, Los Angeles
  20. Rainbow Canyon, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority
  21. Lummis Home-El Alisal, Los Angeles
  22. Grayers Oak Park
  23. Heritage Square, Los Angeles
  24. Lacy Street Neighborhood Park, Los Angeles
  25. Los Angeles River Center & Gardens, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
  26. Arroyo Seco Confluence/Los Angeles River, Los Angeles
  27. Elysian Park, Los Angeles
  28. LA State Historic Park, Los Angeles