Los Angeles County has the largest Indigenous population in the United States. This includes descendants of those who lived here in pre-colonial times who were displaced by settler colonialism; and Indigenous diasporas from Latin America and Oceania. The histories of these peoples are layered into the fabric of our community.

The Lake Balboa Park project has been conceived as a story to be written and shared by the citizens of Los Angeles; a story that recognizes and celebrates the land on which it sits, and which gives a voice to its Indigenous peoples. A native plant nursery & foraging garden, a Native American model village, the rehabilitation of Bull Creek, an environmental and first-nations studies center and the entire 2,000-acre Sepulveda Basin, all contribute to this story –– providing a first-hand understanding of the rich diversity of our history, our people and our native habitat.

Our mission is to nurture new generations of well-informed community leaders while providing facilities that will enhance the lives of neighbors and visitors. In association with the Los Angeles Unified School District, we will educate school children about habitat and watershed restoration, avian migration, the impacts of climate change, Native American history and Indigenous knowledge –– in a studies center situated in 2,000 acres of outdoor classrooms in the middle of one of the world’s largest cities. The studies center will share a net-zero pavilion with a Native American restaurant that will provide a culinary studies program and serve as a high-quality showcase for Indigenous foodways and cuisine. The adjacent park gateway/community/resilience center will be built with a wide range of facilities to serve neighboring communities and visitors. It will also be a safe place in the event of extreme temperatures.

Our vision for Los Angeles is as a global model for equity and sustainability, culturally rich and environmentally resilient, with sufficient affordable housing and accessible green and civic spaces to bring our diverse community together.