Misplaced Pages

#850149

47-642: Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area , or Kenneth Hahn Park , is a state park unit of California in the Baldwin Hills Mountains of Los Angeles . The park is managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. As one of the largest urban parks and regional open spaces in the Greater Los Angeles Area , many have called it " L.A.'s Central Park ". The 401-acre (1.62 km) park

94-526: A land lease from the U.S. government , while Mackinac National Park was handed down to become the first of the Michigan state parks . As with national parks, facilities at state parks are often leased to concessionaires to operate. Breaks Interstate Park is operated under an interstate compact by Virginia state parks , although it is also one of the Kentucky state parks , straddling both sides of

141-589: A few exceptions such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, and Wood-Tikchik State Park in Alaska, the largest state park in the United States . In addition to preserving natural landscapes and providing recreational opportunities, many state parks also serve as important educational resources . They often offer guided tours, interpretive programs, and exhibits that help visitors learn about

188-481: A healthy future for the California oak woodlands include maintenance and restoration of old-growth forests , watershed management and improvement, protection of water quality , protection of wildlife species that have cultural and environmental value to the area, restoration of valley oaks , and the habitat maintenance of "special status botanical species" and select endangered species. Due to residential and commercial development, 64% of California counties reported

235-603: A lotus pond and waterfall . In 2017, a 9-hole disc golf course was added along the north bowl. There are six sets of bathrooms for visitors. Restrooms are locked at 5:30 p.m. daily. There is a lake for fishing, stocked monthly with trout or catfish, depending on the weather season. Since 2004, the park, primarily the bowl, has been the site of the Southern California USATF Cross Country Championships. There are at least 7 mi (11 km) of walking paths through

282-699: A restaurant) for lodging at some parks. These typically use "Resort" in the name, such as "_____ Resort State Park" in West Virginia state parks and "_____ State Resort Park" in neighboring Kentucky state parks , which has 17 such resort parks, the most of any state. Other states use the Resort name inconsistently (like DeGray Lake Resort State Park , the only one out of three resorts in Arkansas state parks ), or have only one such park ( South Carolina state parks ' Hickory Knob State Resort Park ), or do not use

329-622: A state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales . The equivalent term used in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Belgium,

376-413: Is provincial park . Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies. State parks are thus similar to national parks , but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g., regional parks or county parks . In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with

423-719: Is associated with valley oak similar to drier northern sites, but also sees interior live oak , Coulter pine and California black walnut . Outside of the southern ranges of coastal wild oak are small areas of oak woodland characterized by Englemann oak. These sites can coincide with coastal live oak, however they can also occur as stands composed almost entirely of Englemann oak. Northern, wetter regions of California are populated with oak woodlands formed from Oregon white oak. These woodlands are associated interior live oak and canyon live oak similar to coastal live oak woodlands, but differ with Pacific madrone and California black oak . The variety of canopy density which results from

470-631: Is both multiple levels of vegetation heights and varied spacing between vegetation to create complex habitat structure both vertically and horizontally because there are more places for species that live in different layers of the vegetation. Among these species, the California quail ( Callipepla californicus ), Beechey ground squirrels ( Spermophilus beecheyi ), Botta pocket gopher ( Thomomys bottae mewa ), Audubon cottontail ( Sylvilagus audubonii vallicola ), deer ( Odocoileus spp), bobcat ( Lynx rufus californicus ), coyote ( Canis latrans ) and

517-577: Is often found on north facing slopes there is more moisture in the soils from protection from the sun ( slope effect ). In southern and central areas, the predominant oak species is coastal live oak which grow on coastal valleys and foothills. In drier regions within this range, coastal wild oak is associated with foothill pine , valley oak and blue oak ; whereas wetter areas are defined by tanoak , canyon live oak and California bay . Coastal live oak woodland found in Southern California

SECTION 10

#1732773293851

564-541: Is part of the greater Ballona Creek watershed , is now connected to nearby open spaces across La Cienega Blvd. via the Park to Playa Bridge. Hahn Park is a keystone segment of the Park to Playa Trail , completed 2020. State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by

611-615: Is the site of a popular jogging track. Los Angeles County Supervisors began negotiations to acquire the site of the Baldwin Hills Dam disaster in 1976. It opened in 1983 as the '''Baldwin Hills State Recreational Area''', and was renamed in 1988 to honor Supervisor Hahn and his preservation efforts there. At the time the area was also a very popular spot for the then-new sport of motocross , locals calling it “Motorcycle Hill.” An abandoned oil well at

658-597: The Central Valley are dominated by blue oak ( Q. douglasii ) and gray pine ( Pinus sabiniana ). The headwaters area of Yulupa Creek in Annadel State Park is cited as one of the best examples of California oak woodlands. Much of this woodland is a relatively pristine ecosystem with considerable biodiversity . An unusual characteristic of this Annadel forest is the high content of undisturbed prehistoric bunch grass understory , testifying to

705-651: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . California oak woodland Oak savannas occur where the oaks are more widely spaced due a combination of lack of available moisture, and low-intensity frequent fires . The oak woodlands of Southern California and coastal Northern California are dominated by coast live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ), but also include valley oak ( Q. lobata ), California black oak ( Q. kelloggii ), canyon live oak ( Q. chrysolepis ), and other California oaks. The foothill oak woodlands around

752-552: The Pacific rattlesnake ( Crotalus viridis oreganus ) can commonly be found in California oak woodlands. Aspects of the California oak woodland that are important for wildlife of these habitats are habitat corridors, snags and downed wood. Natural vegetation create habitat corridors that connect the patches of habitat that host species. Habitat corridors provide protection and food for animals that migrate between patches such as deer, mountain lions, bobcats, or gray foxes. Snags are

799-822: The University of California, Davis found that the prominent presence of oak trees in California oak woodlands creates areas of soil that are optimal for new growth. The Bureau of Land Management partnered with the California Biodiversity Council to carry out the Agreement on Biological Diversity, started in 1991, to protect and expand the following oakland wood areas: King Range National Conservation Area , Cache Creek Management Area, Yuba River Watershed in Inimim Forest, Consumes River Preserve, and Fort Ord . The methods used to ensure

846-475: The Sierra are characterized by a dominant overstory of Foothill Pine ( Pinus sabiniana ), Blue Oak ( Quercus douglasii ), Interior Live Oak ( Quercus chrysolepis ), California Black Oak ( Quercus kelloggii ), California Buckeye ( Aesculus californica ), and understory plants including Ceanothus spp. , Toyon ( Heteromeles arbutifolia ), Dogwood ( Cornus spp. ), and Redbud ( Cercis occidentalis ). It

893-483: The absence of historic grazing or other agriculture . The Morro Bay watershed, located in Central California, is an example of a coast live oak ecosystem. This sub-category of California oak woodland consists primarily of coast wild oak and are predominantly found in coastal regions, but can extend to foothill ecosystems. The composition and characteristics of California oak woodlands varies across

940-544: The area east of the park was used as the site of the first Olympic Village ever built, for the 1932 Summer Olympics in the 10th Olympiad, which Los Angeles hosted. In the late 1940s the city transportation master plan included building a new north–south freeway, the Laurel Canyon Freeway -SR-170, that would have bisected the Baldwin Hills and park site where La Cienega Boulevard currently crosses

987-497: The contrary, rattlesnakes “don’t fare well in urban areas” and there are no rattlesnakes in the Baldwin Hills at this time. The park's native habitat is the Coastal sage scrub plant community , with oak woodlands in northern arroyos and bunch grass grasslands on the southwestern windy and exposed terrain. Native plants present in the park include California sagebrush , coyote brush and prickly pear . Invasive species in

SECTION 20

#1732773293851

1034-738: The country's state parks. The NASPD further counts over 43,000 miles (69,000 km) of trail, 217,367 campsites, and 8,277 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks. The largest state park system in the United States is Alaska State Parks , with over 100 sites encompassing 3.3 million acres. Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation areas , state beaches, and state nature reserves . Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic sites . To encourage tourism in rural areas, several states have simple lodges, inns, hotels, or motels (usually with

1081-427: The designation at all (such as the lodges of Georgia state parks ). The term "lodge" may also refer to a hiking lodge , essentially a large cabin for hikers rather than a large facility with private rooms and a restaurant. Other lodging may include yurts and tipis . Not all parks owned by a state are necessarily part of its state-park system, such as Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Some Texas state parks are

1128-437: The diversity of tree species found in different woodland regions causes a wide range of understory grass and shrub density, and plant type. An example of this can be seen by the commonality of annual grasses in open woodlands, a phenomenon that is not seen in dense woodland areas. All three oak species which characterize California oak woodlands can be defined as "long-lived, slow-growing trees." The frequent fires seen within

1175-404: The expansive lawns. Hahn Park offers walking and hiking trails with some of the area's best scenic vistas. The park is a destination for picnics and family gatherings, having 100 picnic tables in various picnic grounds around the park. The park also has four playgrounds , a half basketball court , a multi-purpose field, and a sand volleyball court. Garden areas include a Japanese garden with

1222-513: The hills where the 1932 Olympic Village was located, with each tree representing a nation that took part in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles . The Olympic Forest includes “sea hibiscus from Seychelles, oleander from Algeria, sweet bay from Greece, Cajeput from Papua New Guinea…the paper mulberry from Toga, the carob from Cyprus, the date palm from Egypt.” The Baldwin Hills were part of

1269-595: The hills. Between 1947 and 1951, the Baldwin Hills Reservoir was built here. In the 1963 Baldwin Hills Dam disaster , the reservoir's dam suffered a catastrophic collapse, washing away residences in the canyon, flooding the landmark Baldwin Hills Village (now Village Green ), and killing five residents who had not evacuated. The news coverage of the disaster was the first time aerial footage

1316-618: The homeland of the Tongva people , inhabited by them for over 8,000 years. In the 19th century the area was part of the Spanish and Mexican Ranchos of California era, with the Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes and Rancho La Cienega o Paso de la Tijera in and around the present day park. As Los Angeles quickly grew during the 20th century, only the rugged terrain of this section of the Baldwin Hills protected it from being developed. In 1932

1363-493: The local flora , fauna , geology , and cultural history of the area. These programs are designed not only to enhance the visitor experience but also to promote conservation awareness and encourage responsible enjoyment of natural resources. There are 6,792 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). There are some 813 million annual visits to

1410-405: The most extensive old growth forests left in the state. However, most oaks of full tree size are more than one hundred years old, and few saplings are ever produced, because cattle often tear the plants to pieces. The Oaks 2040 survey estimates that 750,000 acres (3,000 km ) of California oak woodlands are seriously threatened by 2040 as a burgeoning state population makes ever more use of

1457-546: The park every half hour on weekends and holidays, and a map of nearby bus routes and bike paths is available. Kenneth Hahn SRA is one of the few California State Parks that does not accept the “annual day use pass.” The park is home to urban coyotes , California ground squirrel , elusive gray foxes , raccoons , striped skunk , desert cottontail rabbits, opossums , and California quail , among other animals. “Hummingbirds, hawks, northern mockingbirds and blue scrub-jays flock to Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area,” and

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area - Misplaced Pages Continue

1504-478: The park include black mustard, castor bean, milk thistle, agave, ice plant, nasturtium, and lantana. “The native plant community has been greatly altered by the hand of man, so much so that botanists describe Baldwin Hills flora as being in a condition called disclimax ,” reported the L.A. Times in 1988. To serve as a monument to Los Angeles’ role in the Olympic movement , 140 trees have been planted together on

1551-688: The park is a nexus for the Black Birders movement. The Baldwin Hills area is the nesting grounds for 41 species of birds, and the Audubon Society offers monthly birdwatching walks. The park is immediately adjacent to the 1,000-acre (4.0 km) Inglewood Oil Field , which, when combined with the parkland, provides an unusually large habit range for Los Angeles urban wildlife. Kenneth Hahn and adjacent Baldwin Hills parks host four species of snakes: gopher snake , California kingsnake , ring-necked snake and red coachwhip . Warning signs to

1598-412: The park. LA County Trails app for Android and iPhone has detailed maps and route guides. Admission is charged for cars entering the park on weekends and holidays only (weekdays free). Transferable annual passes are available. While there may be a fee for entry by vehicle, there is no charge to visitors using transit or hikers and cyclists entering the park. The county operates a circuit bus that visits

1645-441: The range, 800 to 4,000 feet (240 to 1,220 m) in the central part, and 1,250 to 5,000 feet (380 to 1,520 m) in the southern part. Annual precipitation in the oak woodland range is 15 to 40 inches (0.38 to 1.02 m), with little precipitation in the summer. Growing season is 6–10 months. Temperatures range 75 to 96 °F (24 to 36 °C) in the summer, and 29 to 42 °F (−2 to 6 °C) in winter. The woodlands in

1692-497: The region have resulted in species such as coastal live oak and Englemann oak (which grow in drier, more fire prone regions) to have developed a resistance to low-intensity fires. This resiliency has resulted in coastal live oak emerging as the predominant species in cleared regions, as the trees have higher fitness to survive compared to less resistant, deciduous oaks. The same cannot be said for Oregon white oak, which populate traditionally wetter, less fire-prone regions, resulting in

1739-464: The standing wood that is left when trees die and are home to wood-eating insects that are food for animals such as birds. Snags provide temporary refuge for small birds, bats, swallows, salamanders, and lizards. Similarly, downed wood provide refuge for animals that require moist areas, such as amphibians, cover for nesting of multiple species of birds, and areas for dens for larger snags. Blue oak woodlands cover about 2,939,000 acres (11,890 km ) of

1786-474: The state line. Other multi-state parks are legally two separate parks with the same name and more informal cooperation between them. The title of oldest state park in the United States is claimed by Niagara Falls State Park in New York , established in 1885. Several public parks previously or currently maintained at the state level pre-date it. Indian Springs State Park has been operated continuously by

1833-454: The state of Georgia as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. Mackinac National Park

1880-404: The state, and of this area about 79%, or 2,322,000 acres (9,400 km ), shows no evidence of past cutting of trees. Recent research by the University of Arkansas Tree-Ring Laboratory has studied several unlogged stands of blue oak woodlands, and suggests that the state may harbor over 500,000 acres (2,000 km ) of such old growth forests . This would make California's oak woodlands some of

1927-472: The state, but are defined by three main oak species throughout coastal regions: coastal live oak , Englemann oak , and Oregon white oak . The concentration of each of these oak species correlates with the location of the woodland throughout California. In the Sierra Nevada range, oak woodland is found on western slopes at elevations of 500 to 3,000 feet (150 to 910 m) in the northern part of

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area - Misplaced Pages Continue

1974-573: The top of the hill was decorated with sparkle lights during the holiday season and looked like a giant Christmas tree at night. The park is named after Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Kenneth Hahn, also the father of James Hahn , former Los Angeles mayor, and Janice Hahn , former U.S. Representative and now one of the five County Supervisors. The park is home to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Tree Grove. The park, which

2021-528: The trees having little built-up fire resistance. Because of the lack of fires in these northern regions, white oaks can have the threat of being outgrown by conifers growing in the understory. California oak woodland habitats contain some of the most wildlife in California. More than half of the species of terrestrial vertebrates in California are found in oak woodlands. This includes more than 120 species of mammals, 147 species of birds, and 60 species of amphibians or reptiles. The most diversity occurs when there

2068-451: The wildland. This comprehensive survey includes oak woodland maps and inventory data for the ten oak types found in California. By evaluating this new information against current State of California economic growth projections, the location and extent of oak woodlands most at risk of development are identified. Management practices, such as the grazing (or the lack thereof) can lower soil fertility and nutrient level. A study performed by

2115-473: Was established in 1875 as the second U.S. national park before being converted to a state park in 1895. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Itasca State Park in Minnesota , established in 1891. Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks (and several national ones) across the country were developed with assistance from federal job-creation programs like

2162-478: Was established in 1984. The land was previously the Baldwin Hills Reservoir, which failed catastrophically in the 1963 Baldwin Hills Dam disaster . In 1988, four years after it opened, the Los Angeles Times noted that: Few Southern Californians seem to know about a park in Baldwin Hills, but the clean, well-developed park is no secret to nearby residents, who enjoy weekend picnics and barbecues on

2209-510: Was televised live. Before the county demolished the ruined reservoir bowl and converted the land into parking and picnic areas circa 1990s, “Fennel, chamise and dandelion pushed through the cracked cement bottom of the reservoir” and it was overlooked by a “observation tower” that resembled “a castle from the Middle Ages.” The bowl of the reservoir (now called Janice's Green Valley) has been planted with grass and trees but remains visible and

#850149