Los Angeles Beaches Eyed for National Park Status

Public input sought on proposal to designate iconic coastline as new national park unit

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting a study to evaluate whether a stretch of the Los Angeles coastline, from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach, should be designated as a new national park. The public comment period is open until April 6, 2026, after which the NPS will analyze the feedback and produce a report in 2027 on the feasibility of creating a new national park unit in the area.

Why it matters

Establishing the Los Angeles coastline as a national park would provide federal protection and resources to preserve the iconic beaches, while potentially impacting public access, local decision-making, and management responsibilities. The outcome of the study could have significant implications for the future of one of the most heavily used and environmentally sensitive urban coastlines in the United States.

The details

The "Los Angeles Coastal Area Special Resource Study" will examine a 40-mile stretch of the Pacific coast, including the beaches within the city of Los Angeles. The NPS will evaluate the area's significance, suitability, feasibility, and the need for NPS management. If the study finds the area meets the criteria, Congress would need to pass legislation to officially designate it as a new national park unit.

  • The public comment period for the study is open until April 6, 2026.
  • The NPS will analyze the public feedback and produce a report in 2027 on the feasibility of creating a new national park unit.

The players

National Park Service (NPS)

The federal agency responsible for managing the United States' national park system, which includes 433 individual units covering more than 85 million acres.

Janice Hahn

Los Angeles County Supervisor whose district includes the San Pedro coastline, who stated she is waiting for the study's findings before commenting further on the proposal.

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What they’re saying

“Los Angeles County's beaches are among our greatest shared treasures and public assets, and any conversation about their future deserves a thoughtful, fact-based approach. I'm looking forward to seeing the pros and cons that come out of this study and what making our beaches a national park could mean for public access, local decision-making, and our responsibility to protect our beaches for generations to come.”

— Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor (Fox News Digital)

What’s next

The NPS will analyze the public feedback received by the April 6, 2026 deadline and produce a report in 2027 on whether the Los Angeles coastline meets the criteria to be designated as a new national park unit.

The takeaway

The potential designation of the Los Angeles coastline as a national park unit highlights the ongoing balance between preserving iconic natural resources and managing public access and local control. The outcome of the NPS study could have far-reaching implications for one of the most heavily used urban coastlines in the United States.