PlayLA is an initiative to provide affordable and accessible sports programming to young Angelenos of all abilities. The initiative is made possible by the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the International Olympic Committee, which are investing $160 million to make sports more accessible to kids across Los Angeles ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. This initiative is the single largest commitment to youth sport development in California.
Through the LA Parks Department, PlayLA will ensure every child ages 5-17 has an opportunity to participate in low-cost or no-cost quality sports programming in their neighborhood.
“An investment in neighborhood parks is an investment in our families and community. The benefits are priceless,” said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “Outdoor spaces that are responsive to the needs of the neighborhood and offer programming and activities that residents want become the heartbeat of community life. Council District 8 has made it a practice to invest in programming to keep everyone active and invested in our parks. LA2028’s contribution is a welcome and golden opportunity for thousands of children across Los Angeles to participate on sports teams.”
“The LA28 Games are so much more than a sports event,” said LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman. “The Games are a platform for positive impact. We know we will deliver incredible Games for athletes and fans across Los Angeles and around the world, but if all we do is host an amazing event, we will have missed our greatest chance. Providing kids opportunities to be part of sport so they can realize their potential is just one of the many ways the Games can leave a lasting legacy for Los Angeles.”
PlayLA will offer adaptive sports programs for kids with physical disabilities – a first in the City’s youth sports programming. For the inaugural season, PlayLA and the LA28 Games are exploring a variety of sports, including sitting volleyball, adaptive swimming, goalball, para equestrian, para surfing, wheelchair basketball, adaptive athletics, wheelchair tennis, and paracanoe.
For more information, please visit https://www.laparks.org/play-la.
