LA County Parks Attendance Still Below Pre-Raid Levels
A year after federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, attendance at six county parks has not fully recovered, according to a joint report by UCLA and UC Berkeley researchers.
According to a report by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the UC Berkeley Latinx Research Center, attendance at six fee-charging parks in Los Angeles County has not recovered since the 2025 ICE raids. Researchers found that parks lost an estimated 150,000 visitors across the past two summers compared with 2024, with the decline linked to the immigration sweeps (Evidence 1). The study reviewed data from parks including Santa Fe Dam, Castaic Lake, and Whittier Narrows, and found a 17% drop in entries across 12 matched summer weekends in June, July, and August. [1]
The report estimates that the decline in visitors has cost the parks about $380,000 in potential revenue. Researchers calculated attendance by estimating four visitors per vehicle and found that there were about 21,000 fewer vehicle entries in 2025 and 17,000 fewer in 2026 (Evidence 1). Two parks, Schabarum and Kenneth Hahn, saw modest gains in visitors, but parks near large Latino communities experienced the biggest declines. For example, Santa Fe Dam saw an estimated 8,500 fewer vehicle entries in 2025. [1]
Los Angeles County has designated most county property, including parks, as sensitive locations, which limits law enforcement immigration actions in non-public areas to the greatest extent permissible by law (Evidence 2). The county has also provided resources for residents to understand their rights, including a "Know Your Rights" guide available in English and Spanish. Local leaders have sought to provide some level of protection for residents amid the ongoing federal immigration actions and related protests. [2]
According to a report by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the UC Berkeley Latinx Research Center, attendance at six fee-charging parks in Los Angeles County has not recovered since the 2025 ICE raids. The report estimates that the decline in visitors has cost the parks about $380,000 in potential revenue. The study reviewed data from six fee-charging parks in L.A. County, including Santa Fe Dam, Castaic Lake, Whittier Narrows, and others. The researchers counted about 21,000 fewer vehicle entries in 2025 and 17,000 fewer in 2026, with a 17% decline in entries across 12 matched summer weekends in June, July, and August (Evidence 1). [1]
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The report’s authors also found significant drops at parks near large Latino communities. Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale saw an estimated 8,500 fewer vehicle entries in 2025, while Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, near South El Monte, saw 7,000 fewer. Nicholas Vargas, one of the report’s authors and a professor at UC Berkeley, noted that the effects of the raids extend to families spending a day in nature and the economic pressures of rising costs (Evidence 1). [1]
Los Angeles County has designated most county property, including parks, as sensitive locations, which limits law enforcement immigration actions in non-public areas to the greatest extent permissible by law. However, that designation does not prevent immigration agents from entering public areas. The County’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has created “Know Your Rights” information and other resources available to residents in English and Spanish (Evidence 2). [2]
According to a report by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the UC Berkeley Latinx Research Center, attendance at six fee-charging parks in Los Angeles County has not recovered since the 2025 ICE raids (Evidence 1). The report estimates that the decline in visitors has cost the parks about $380,000 in potential revenue. Researchers reviewed data from six fee-charging parks in L.A. County, including Santa Fe Dam, Castaic Lake, Whittier Narrows, and others, and found that park use has remained significantly lower compared to pre-raids levels. The study counted about 21,000 fewer vehicle entries in 2025 and 17,000 fewer in 2026, with entries falling 17% across 12 matched summer weekends in June, July, and August. [1]
The report’s authors also found significant drops at parks near large Latino communities (Evidence 1). For instance, Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale saw an estimated 8,500 fewer vehicle entries in 2025, while Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, near South El Monte, saw 7,000 fewer. The decline in visitors is believed to have cost the parks about $380,000 in additional entry fees. Researchers estimate that the impact on these parks is linked to the fear and disruption caused by immigration sweeps, which have affected daily life for many residents. [1]
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Los Angeles County has designated most county property, including parks, as sensitive locations, which limits law enforcement immigration actions in non-public areas to the greatest extent permissible by law (Evidence 2). However, that designation does not prevent immigration agents from entering public areas. The county has affirmed its commitment to following the law and upholding residents’ rights to peacefully demonstrate, while also prioritizing service to the public in accordance with policies established by the Board of Supervisors. [2]
According to a report by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the UC Berkeley Latinx Research Center, attendance at six fee-charging parks in Los Angeles County has not recovered since the 2025 ICE raids (Evidence 1). The report estimates that the decline in visitors has cost the parks about $380,000 in potential revenue (Evidence 1). Researchers identified a significant drop in attendance, with parks losing an estimated 150,000 visitors across the past two summers compared with 2024, a decline they link to immigration sweeps (Evidence 1). [1]
The report’s authors also found significant drops at parks near large Latino communities (Evidence 1). For example, Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale saw an estimated 8,500 fewer vehicle entries in 2025, while Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, near South El Monte, saw 7,000 fewer (Evidence 1). Researchers counted about 21,000 fewer vehicle entries in 2025 and 17,000 fewer in 2026, with entries falling 17% across 12 matched summer weekends in June, July, and August (Evidence 1). [1]
Los Angeles County has designated most county property, including parks, as sensitive locations, which limits law enforcement immigration actions in non-public areas to the greatest extent permissible by law (Evidence 2). However, that designation does not prevent immigration agents from entering public areas (Evidence 2). The County affirms its commitment to following the law and upholding residents’ rights to peacefully demonstrate, while continuing to prioritize service to the public (Evidence 2). [2]
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Editorial note: This article is sourced. Some claims are awaiting further verification.
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Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.
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