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
11/30/2021
Anticipated End Date
06/30/2024
Written Languages
  • Spanish
Project Contacts Indicators & Metrics Target Populations Project Description Goals & Objectives

Project Contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Access to internet
    0
  • 7-17 will have wifi access
    0
  • LA County Parks will have new apps & devices
    0
  • Number of Households Served
    0

Target Populations

  • Systems Impacted Individuals
  • People Experiencing Homelessness

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 "• 36 Los Angeles County parks in the highest, high and moderate need COVID-19 vulnerability and recovery index census tracts will have new and additional APs installed to provide public WiFi service by June 2024. •At least2,000 youth ages 7-17 participate will have WiFi access at the designated Los Angeles County parks by June 2024. •At least 5,000 of residents will have WiFi access at the designated Los Angeles County parks by June 2024. Ensure that about 5,000 of users who lack access to the internet have a stable connection point over 98% uptime. "

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. "
Indicators
# Type Name Baseline Target
1 Program Outcome Access to internet 5000.00 5000.00
2 Program Outcome 7-17 will have wifi access 2000.00 2000.00
3 Program Outcome LA County Parks will have new apps & devices 36.00 36.00

Outcome Description Please add Outcome information with Indicators