EIn summary, Los Angeles–area parks face severe budget cuts driven by economic downturns, disaster-related expenses, legal settlements, and political choices. The report explains that Los Angeles County’s FY 2025–26 budget slashes departmental spending by 3%, eliminates hundreds of vacancies, and imposes an 8.5% cut and $4 million lifeguard funding rescission on the Parks Department . These actions result from the January 2025 wildfires, a $4 billion abuse settlement, shrinking federal aid, and slowing property-tax revenues , leading to two-day park closures, shortened pool seasons, fee hikes, and suspended programs . The city’s Recreation and Parks Department, grappling with a nearly $1 billion deficit and structural underfunding—where 40% of its budget reimburses the general fund—plans to eliminate 192 full-time positions, cut $20 million, and possibly lose general-fund support . Mayor Bass’s budget message highlights downward economic trends, volatile markets, and wildfire costs as key drivers , while long-term data show the department’s budget has grown much slower than the city’s overall budget and that staffing has declined sharply . The report notes that federal parks like the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are also squeezed by national policies proposing to cut public-land funding by one-third and reduce NPS staff by 30%, resulting in layoffs, rehirings, and threatened visitor services . Ultimately, the report warns that without new funding strategies, Angelenos will face ongoing service reductions and deteriorating park infrastructure.