Mayor Bass Highlights $22 Million in State Funding to Continue Investing in the Sepulveda Basin

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43% Reduction in Fires in the Sepulveda Basin in First Six Months of 2026; 120+ Encampments Cleared

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Karen Bass was joined by Councilmember Imelda Padilla, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez, LAFD leadership, and Valley community members on Saturday to highlight continued progress to make the Sepulveda Basin safer for Angelenos. State leaders delivered $22 million in new funding for infrastructure and accessibility improvements, new shade structures, improvements to the Hjelte Sports Fields, and to support the LAFD with ongoing vegetation management and fire prevention to strengthen public safety. Photos are available here.

"We've made real progress in addressing long-standing public safety threats in the Sepulveda Basin and restoring this vital public space for Valley families," said Mayor Bass. "With the leadership of Senator Henry Stern, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez, and Councilmember Imelda Padilla, the City will be able to expand these efforts to continue making this incredible natural space safer and cleaner for families to enjoy."

"Delivering for the Valley means fighting to ensure our communities get their fair share of state resources, and then turning those dollars into meaningful improvements for local families," said Assembly Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel. "I'm proud that we secured $22 million in new funding for the Sepulveda Basin. This transformative funding will make our parks safer and more accessible, reduce wildfire risk, provide relief from extreme heat, and strengthen public safety. This investment will also deliver critical resources to LAFD to help firefighters protect our neighborhoods. Valley families deserve safe, welcoming outdoor spaces, and I'll keep fighting to deliver the investments our community deserves."

"This $22 million investment in the Sepulveda Basin is an important step toward ensuring that San Fernando Valley residents have access to safe and welcoming public spaces. Access to nature should not be a luxury. It should be an opportunity available to everyone," said Assistant Speaker Pro Tem Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez. "That is why I am especially excited about this investment by the state, which will create lasting benefits for the entire region. I thank my colleagues and local leaders for their partnership and commitment to lifting up the Valley."

"The Sepulveda Basin is the green jewel of the Valley, and I am so proud of the intergovernmental work we are doing to revitalize the Basin," Councilmember Imelda Padilla said. "With the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the San Fernando Valley for the first time, we are excited to welcome the world to this treasured green space."

Under Mayor Bass' leadership, fires in the Sepulveda Basin have dropped 43% in the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. More than 120 encampments have been cleared in the area and law enforcement officials have arrested a suspect accused of setting fires in the Basin.

"This $2 million investment allows us to continue the vegetation management work that keeps the Sepulveda Basin safer for the people who use it and the neighborhoods that surround it," said LAFD Battalion Chief Robert Barna. "Vegetation grows back and conditions change, so reducing fire risk takes a consistent, long-term commitment. Together with our partners, we are improving access for our firefighters and strengthening our readiness to respond."

Through the leadership of Mayor Bass, Senator Henry Stern, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez, and Councilmember Imelda Padilla, the State approved $22 million in funding for the Sepulveda Basin:

• $8M for improvements to the Balboa Sports Center, including lighting infrastructure for the two soccer fields and new shade structures for Angelenos.

• $4M for improvements to the Hjelte Sports Fields.

• $6M for transportation and mobility improvements from Lake Balboa across Victory Blvd into the Basin, supporting accessibility.

• $2M for fire prevention projects through the LAFD.

• $2M for vegetation management through the Public Works Department, including workforce development efforts through Chrysalis and Resilience Force.