Brief

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr., introduced a motion on September 4, 2026, directing the Department of Recreation and Parks to establish a citywide running club. The initiative aims to showcase diverse open spaces throughout Los Angeles while building community connections. The motion is currently pending in the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee, with a committee hearing scheduled for September 16, 2026.

Full summary

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez introduced a motion asking the Department of Recreation and Parks to report on a process for creating a citywide running club that would highlight LA's diverse open spaces and serve as a gathering point for both individuals and the many existing neighborhood running clubs spread across the city. The motion frames running as an accessible, affordable form of exercise with wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits, and positions a citywide club as a vehicle for celebrating the diversity and community spirit that already exists within LA's grassroots running scene. The motion specifically calls out several existing clubs as evidence of that scene's vibrancy: DTLA Running, a free club offering distances for all skill levels in Downtown LA; BlacklistLA, which combines weekly runs with exploration of the city's street art; Boyle Heights Bridge Runners, which meets at Mariachi Plaza and routes runners across the Sixth Street Bridge; Little Tokyo Run Club, focused on the Little Tokyo and Arts District neighborhoods; and Koreatown Run Club, a large community with multiple weekly runs across different pace groups. Rodriguez argues the city should amplify and celebrate these groups rather than build from scratch, by supporting community runs, spotlighting local clubs at public events, and ensuring safe, accessible spaces for runners citywide. The motion does not prescribe a specific program structure or budget. Instead, it asks Recreation and Parks to report back with a proposed process, leaving the operational design to the department. This approach means the committee hearing scheduled for September 16, 2026, is likely to focus on whether and how the department would develop that plan, rather than on approving a fully formed program. The file was referred to the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee on the day of introduction, and as of September 11, 2026, remains pending there with no further action taken.

Activity (2)

• 2026-09-11 Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 16, 2026.
• 2026-09-04 Motion referred to Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee.

Documents (1)

• 2026-09-04 Motion · motion