Public Wi-Fi at County Parks

PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT

County Spending Category

1.4 Digital Divide

Federal Expenditure Category

Household Assistance: Internet Access Programs

Project Launch Date

01/20/2023

Anticipated End Date

12/31/2026

Written Languages
  • Spanish

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Number of Households Served
    0
  • 7-17 year olds will have access to Wifi at parks
    2700
  • Parks with new WIFI access points
    0

Populations Served

  • Systems Impacted Individuals
  • People Experiencing Homelessness
  • Other

Project Description

To minimize the digital divide in the County of Los Angeles, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will install access points (APs) to provide public WiFi service at 36 LA County parks that serve communities hardest hit by the pandemic and with the lowest rates of home broadband access. An estimated five APs will be installed at each park; the parks were selected based on the ARDI Equity Index and layers as well as the COVID-19 Statewide Vulnerability and Recovery Index. DPR used census tracts that are half-mile radius surrounding the parks as the service areas. The following 36 parks currently do not have WiFi and will have APs installed: • Athens Park • Col. Leon H. Washington Park • Enterprise Park • Franklin D. Roosevelt Park • George Washington Carver Park • Lennox Park • Mary M. Bethune Park • Roy Campanella Park • Ted Watkins Memorial Park • Adventure Park • Jackie Robinson Park • Pearblossom Park • San Fernando Regional Pool • Alondra Community Regional Park • Bodger Park • Sorensen Park • Val Verde Community Regional Park • Victoria Community Regional Park • Amigo Park • Charter Oak Park • Deane Dana Friendship Natural Area and Nature Center • Del Aire Park • Don Knabe Community Regional Park • Ladera Park • Manzanita Park • Whittier Narrows Natural Area and Nature Center • Charles S. Farnsworth Park • Dexter Park • Rowland Heights Park • Arcadia Community Regional Park • Castaic Regional Sports Complex • Placerita Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center • San Dimas Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center • Tesoro Adobe Historic Park • Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park • Dr. Richard H. Rioux Memorial Park

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description "The primary project outcome is to provide access to a free WiFi service for community members that have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This project will enhance other DPR efforts to improve educational performance by ensuring access to WiFi at locations where we currently provide afterschool homework assistance. Primary project outcomes include: • Reduced digital divide by providing WiFi to those that do not have internet service at home. population-level measurement (access in locations where internet access is low) • Increased number of students with access to the public WiFi to do their homework and research projects • Increased number of community members that can communicate with loved ones through social media and email Survey data will be conducted and collected throughout the year to track the outcomes to be achieved. The survey may be available after they accept the disclaimer and will provide necessary information to assist in measuring outcomes. "

Objective Description Install new and additional AP's to provide public WiFi service to 36 Los Angeles County parks identified as the highest, high and moderate need according to the COVID-19 vulnerability and recovery index census tracts

Activity Description "The project activities include the following: • DPR to collaborate with Internal Services Department (ISD) for the installation of the AP’s for WiFi at parks. • ISD and DPR to survey locations. • ISD and DPR discuss on AP’s configuration and AP install locations • ISD to install AP’s for WiFi service at selected 36 Los Angeles County parks. • DPR tests all installed APs to ensure WiFi is accessible and works properly. • Collaborate with park staff to obtain project evaluations from community members. "

Objective Description Provide ongoing WiFi access to 36 Los Angeles County Parks classified as highest, high and moderate need according to the COVID-19 vulnerability and recovery index census tracts.

Activity Description To provide ongoing reliable access to youth ages 7-17, Los Angeles County residents and ensure users who lack access to the internet have a stable connection point over 98% up-time.

Indicators

# Type Name Baseline Target
12 Program Outcome 7-17 year olds will have access to Wifi at parks 0.00 200.00