Mayor Bass Delivers on Promise to Restore Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area for Valley Residents

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Hundreds of Tons of Debris and Vegetation Removed, More Than 50 Encampments Cleared as City Focuses on Maintenance, Enforcement, and Housing

$22 million in State Funding Secured for Continued Investments in Preparation for 2028 Games

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Karen Bass today announced significant progress in restoring the Sepulveda Basin recreational area and addressing challenges that have been decades in the making through a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck effort to clear brush and debris, remove long-standing encampments, and reduce public safety threats. In coordination with Councilmember Imelda Padilla, LAFD, LAHSA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and nonprofit partners, Mayor Bass launched a comprehensive strategy this past summer to address decades-old challenges in the 2,000-acre recreation space, including 600 acres of wild lands in the area. Photos and b-roll can be found here.

"Our comprehensive and coordinated strategy to address longstanding challenges in the Sepulveda Basin is centered around public safety - and we're seeing real results," said Mayor Bass. "From removing debris and vegetation that increase fire risk to providing outreach to people experiencing homelessness, we will continue working with the community to make the Sepulveda Basin recreation area and surrounding neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more accessible for all."

"The Sepulveda Basin is the green jewel of the San Fernando Valley and one of the most important green spaces in Los Angeles," said Councilmember Imelda Padilla. "Since coming into office, revitalizing the Basin has been one of my top priorities. Through coordinated efforts with Mayor Karen Bass, City departments and our partners, we have cleared debris, removed illegally dumped construction materials, led fire mitigation efforts, and launched innovative solutions like our goat grazing pilot to protect this invaluable space. With LA28 coming to the basin, we are making long-term investments that will ensure this park remains a vibrant, accessible resource for Valley families and generations of Angelenos to come."

"I want to thank Mayor Bass for holding true to her commitment to remove debris, clear encampments, and restore this area for our families and for the community," said Roy Nwaisser, President of the Encino Neighborhood Council."The Sepulveda Basin has faced complex challenges for decades, and I can't wait for the world to see all that it has to offer in 2028."

The Sepulveda Basin is the largest recreational space in the San Fernando Valley - and a future venue for skateboarding, BMX freestyle and racing, 3x3 basketball and the Modern Pentathlon during the 2028 Olympic Games - marking the first time the San Fernando Valley will host Olympic sporting events.

Addressing Encampments, Removing Debris, and Reducing Fire Risk

As part of the Mayor's comprehensive fire prevention strategy in the Basin, the LAFD deployed a new team of 26 full-time Wildland Hand Crew technicians - known as Crew 4 - specifically trained to respond to wildfires and manage vegetation. Working alongside the Conservation Corps, LA River Rangers, the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, and Chrysalis, Crew 4 has led a coordinated vegetation management strategy to thin trees, remove limbs, and clear invasive species that increase fire risk. LAFD has since reported a decrease in emergency calls to report fires in the basin.

• 257 tonsof debris and invasive plants cleared South of Burbank Boulevard.

• 4,776 cubic yards of encampment debris and invasive plants removed from the LA River Basin.

• 50+ homeless encampmentsremoved with services offered. Outreach continues to connect individuals to interim housing and services.

• More than 1,000 goatsdeployed to clear 35 acres of fire-prone vegetation near the model airplane field.

• 2+ miles of medians cleared along Burbank Boulevard and Woodley Avenue.

• 100 tons of illegally dumped construction debris removed.

• 50+ metal "No Camping" signs installed surrounding areas that have been cleared to prevent encampments from returning.

The City continues working with law enforcement, including Park Rangers, to enforce laws prohibiting open flames and overnight camping while coordinating state and federal support to remove debris and vegetation that fuel wildfires. State leaders, including Senator Henry Stern and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, secured $22 million in new state funding for continued investment in the Sepulveda Basin.

Mayor Bass continues to meet directly with Valley residents and community leaders and regularly visits the Basin alongside first responders to ensure sustained progress. With major cleanup efforts underway, the City's focus now turns to maintaining restored areas, enforcing public safety laws, and continuing outreach to move people indoors.