The Glendale Community Services & Parks Dept. (CSP) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) to support the planning and design of the 1000 S. Central Ave. Park Project. This project is part of RPOSD’s largest competitive grant investment in Measure A history – allocating more than $78 million across 72 planning and construction projects and 48 awardees.

The 1000 S. Central Ave. Park Project includes the development of a 2.39-acre former commercial site – previously occupied by a large retail building and surface parking lot, including the former JOANN Fabric and Crafts store – into a public park in south Glendale. This future, vibrant, multi-benefit public park is expected to become the fifth largest in the area, offering both passive and active recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in one of the City’s most park-deficient neighborhoods. Park amenities may include, but are not limited to, children’s play areas, a water play feature, restrooms, picnic areas, fitness equipment, walking paths, murals and living green walls, turf and native grasses, native and drought-tolerant planting areas and a demonstration garden.

This project reflects over a decade of documented community need. The 2016 LA Countywide Parks & Recreation Needs Assessment identified all of south Glendale – home to more than 86,000 residents – as a “very high” park need area, with residents ranking creation of a new park as a “top 10” priority.

To secure the property, the City identified available funding sources and strategically assembled a financing plan that leveraged eligible local and regional funds. The City evaluated and acquired the 2.39-acre site in July 2025 through a strategic combination of local and regional sources, including $8.08 million in Park Mitigation Fees previously earmarked for multi-purpose fields, $14.3 million from Park Mitigation Fee and Capital Improvement funds, and $2.32 million in Measure A grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. By leveraging these funding sources, the City was able to make a major investment in expanding parkland in the neighborhood, marking Glendale’s first major park property acquisition in more than 25 years.

Community input will be essential in shaping the park’s final design and CSP will host public meetings and provide regular updates as the project moves forward. To support this effort, the City will hire a consultant to lead project design and community engagement efforts. A concept design/feasibility study informed by community feedback will be presented to Glendale City Council within 12 months of kick-off, with the engagement process beginning in mid-2026 and the concept design/feasibility study approval expected by late 2027. City staff has already begun the process of seeking grants and other non-City funding sources to identify funds for the future development of the site.

For project updates or to sign up to receive project information, visit https://tinyurl.com/hbktm98d.

Provided by the City of Glendale