Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

What Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District does

RPOSD (Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District) is a California special district established in 1992 under Public Resources Code Section 5500 via voter-approved Proposition A. It was substantially reauthorized in 2016 when LA County voters approved Measure A, a parcel tax of 1.5 cents per square foot of improvements on property, creating a permanent annual funding stream for the County's park system. The District is governed ex officio by the five-member LA County Board of Supervisors, with operational independence in personnel, fiscal, budget, and audit functions, and is overseen by a Citizens Oversight Advisory Board.

The organization's core function is grantmaking: it collects parcel tax revenue and disburses it as competitive and allocation-based grants to 88 cities, local park agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and joint powers authorities across LA County for park acquisition, development, improvement, restoration, multi-use trails, natural lands, regional recreation, youth and veteran job training, and recreation access. Since 1992 it has awarded over $1.7 billion in grants. Grant categories include Natural Lands/Local Beaches/Water Conservation, Regional Recreation/Multi-Use Trails/Accessibility, Planning & Design, Park Land Acquisition, Annual Allocations, the Technical Assistance Program (TAP), the Maintenance & Servicing Program, and the RESTORE Program launched in 2025 for wildfire recovery.

RPOSD operates a small lean staff of 13 employees housed in Alhambra, California, and runs its operations on a modern technology stack: the GovGrants Online Grants Management System (deployed May 2026, replacing the legacy WebGrants platform) for applications, reimbursement, reporting, and project tracking; the ArcGIS-based Park Investment Map Viewer for geographic visualization of funded projects; and the LA Parks Portal that requires agencies to update park inventory data annually to maintain funding eligibility. The District prioritizes the 188 "High" and "Very-High Park Need" Study Areas identified in the 2016 Countywide Park Needs Assessment, channeling technical assistance, planning grants, and capital funding to underserved communities.

Name

Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Legal name

Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Website

https://rposd.lacounty.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RPOSD is a California special district that administers voter-approved parcel tax revenue (Measure A and Proposition A) as competitive and allocation-based grants to 88 cities, nonprofits, and agencies across Los Angeles County for parks, open space, trails, and recreation projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Park and Open Space Grant Administration

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC)

Keywords

• Public park grants
• Open space funding
• Competitive grant programs
• Recreation facilities grants
• Technical assistance grants

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RPOSD is a California special district that collects voter-approved parcel tax revenue (Proposition A and Measure A) and redistributes it as grants to cities, local park agencies, nonprofit organizations, and joint powers authorities within Los Angeles County. It funds acquisition, development, improvement, restoration, and maintenance of parks, open space, trails, recreation facilities, wildlife habitat, and water quality projects, while also providing technical assistance to underserved communities. Grant operations are administered through the GovGrants online platform and supported by an ArcGIS-based Park Investment Map Viewer.

Product overview

RPOSD operates as a grantmaking organization providing funding for parks, open space, trails, and recreation projects across Los Angeles County. The organization administers multiple grant programs through its GovGrants-based Grants Management System, including Competitive Grant Programs (Natural Lands, Regional Recreation, Planning & Design, Parkland Acquisition), Annual Allocations Grant Programs, and the Technical Assistance Program (TAP). The portfolio includes the RESTORE Program for wildfire recovery and the Maintenance & Servicing Program for ongoing capital project support. RPOSD serves 88 cities, local park agencies, and non-profits through voter-approved Measure A and Proposition A funding, having awarded over $1.7 billion in grants since 1992.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GovGrants Grants Management System Online platform that allows RPOSD grant applicants and grantees to register, apply for funding, request reimbursements, submit reports, track project status in real time, and manage grants from application through closeout.
• Competitive Grant Programs Open grant programs where funding opportunities are available to all eligible recipients. Applications undergo competitive evaluation by external panels and are awarded based on merit, covering Natural Lands, Regional Recreation, Multi-use Trails, Planning & Design, and Parkland Acquisition categories.
• Annual Allocations Grant Programs Grant funding allocated specifically to Agencies of Record and designated governmental agencies based on Park Need. Funding is granted upon RPOSD's approval of submitted applications.
• Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Program providing technical assistance to entities serving High and Very-high Park Need Study Areas, offering Planning and Design Funds, Grant Writing, Professional Services, Community Outreach Assistance, and Resources.
• Park Investment Map Viewer Interactive GIS map powered by Esri ArcGIS that allows users to locate and explore RPOSD-funded park projects across Los Angeles County.
• Measure A Maintenance & Servicing Program Program providing additional funding for capital projects funded by any RPOSD grant program to support ongoing maintenance and servicing of completed park improvements.
• RESTORE Program Special funding opportunity launched to support fire recovery and climate resiliency efforts, providing direct funding for disaster recovery, reforestation, and climate adaptation following the January 2025 wildfires.
• Natural Lands, Local Beaches, Water Conservation & Protection Grants Competitive grant category for shovel-ready projects that enhance water quality, habitat, and open space. Awards range from $500,000 to $4 million.
• Regional Recreation, Multi-Use Trails & Accessibility Grants Competitive grant category to connect the County through trail systems, regional parks, and inclusive recreation. Awards range from $500,000 to $4 million.
• Planning & Design Grants Competitive grant category to fund planning, design, permitting, and engagement work to create shovel-ready projects. Awards range from $100,000 to $500,000.
• LA Parks Portal Online portal where agencies managing parks in Los Angeles County are required to update their park inventory data annually to remain eligible for RPOSD funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.7 billion in grants awarded since inception in 1992
• +5 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that partners with communities to protect land and create parks. Comparable as a major park acquisition and development funder, though operating nationally rather than within a single county.
• California State Parks: State-level agency that manages California's state park system. Comparable as the broader government parks steward in California, though RPOSD funds local projects rather than operating parks directly.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global environmental nonprofit that protects land and water through acquisition and conservation funding. Comparable to RPOSD's natural lands and open space preservation grants, though operating globally rather than regionally.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit focused on land and water conservation, including parks and working lands. Comparable as a major conservation funder, though operating at national scale rather than RPOSD's LA County focus.

Emerging players

• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit dedicated to creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines. Comparable to RPOSD's Multi-Use Trails grant category, with partial overlap focused specifically on rail-trail conversion.

Direct peers

• Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District: California special district that acquires and preserves open space in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Closely comparable to RPOSD's land conservation and open space preservation mandate under a voter-approved funding model.
• East Bay Regional Park District: California regional park district serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties with a voter-approved funding base. Most directly comparable to RPOSD in mandate, scale, and special-district governance structure.
• Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority: Independent special district in Santa Clara County focused on protecting open space, natural resources, and working lands. Highly comparable to RPOSD as a regional open space steward funded by voter-approved mechanisms.
• Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District: Sonoma County special district that preserves open space, agricultural land, and natural resources through voter-approved funding. Directly comparable to RPOSD's open space preservation grants and California special-district governance.

Others

• National Recreation and Park Association: National nonprofit that advances park and recreation development through advocacy, education, and resources. Comparable as the broader ecosystem organization supporting park funders and operators like RPOSD, rather than as a direct funder.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RPOSD
• Facebookfacebook.com/RPOSD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rposd
• Instagraminstagram.com/rposd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District