Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced a plan to develop 50 pocket parks scattered throughout Los Angeles over the next year and a half, to provide greenery, places to sit outdoors, and children’s playgrounds to city residents. In addition to the pocket park plan, the city is also raising money to build larger parks in historically park poor neighborhoods. Los Angeles is currently 22,000 acres short of its public parkland standard, which calls for 10 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents. A formal announcement, including the 50 park locations, will come in March.

Education, health and community leaders have agreed to open some Los Angeles school campuses after hours so that families will have a safe place to exercise. The new program, named JUGAR, the Spanish word for “play,” aims to turn schools into community hubs, where residents can participate in aerobics classes, walking clubs and other activities that promote health. “We don’t want the families to see this as only a Monday-to-Friday place,” said Alex Avila, one of the school’s principals. “We want the community to feel welcome always.”