LOS ANGELES, CA — Miles of Los Angeles County coastline, including popular beaches in Santa Monica and Venice, were being evaluated Friday for possible inclusion in the National Park System.
The National Park Service announced last week the launch of the Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study, an early step in determining whether the region meets criteria for national park designation.
The preliminary study area stretches from Will Rogers State Beach near Pacific Palisades south to Torrance Beach, and also includes portions of the San Pedro coastline.
The agency said the study’s purpose is to “gather information about select sites along the Los Angeles coast through research and public input, and then to report these findings to Congress.”
The agency added that it will “evaluate the potential for inclusion of the Los Angeles coast in the national park system based upon whether it meets established criteria for significance, suitability, feasibility, and the need for (National Park Service) management.”
The study marks an early stage in the process, as national park designation can occur only through congressional action or presidential proclamation.
The National Park Service already hosted one virtual meeting Feb. 11, with another planned March 11 at 6 p.m., and is accepting public comments online through April 6.
More information about the study, including details on how to submit comments, is available here.
City News Service