Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis is leading renewed efforts to restore and secure the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, citing ongoing safety concerns and environmental degradation linked to encampments throughout the site.
Speaking after a recent community meeting at the Potrero Heights Community and Senior Center, Solis emphasized that cleanup operations at Whittier Narrows are part of a coordinated plan to both improve public safety and support unhoused residents with long-term solutions.
“The goal has always been twofold,” Solis said. “We are clearing and restoring public land while treating every person we encounter with dignity and connecting them to the services they need to rebuild their lives.”
Since the start of the encampment resolution initiative earlier this year, Solis reported that more than 80 individuals have been moved into shelter through coordinated outreach by the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative, the Sheriff’s Department’s Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
Cleanup and Coordination Efforts Underway
Whittier Narrows, which falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), has faced repeated fires, debris buildup, and health risks over the past several years. Solis said local residents had raised these concerns repeatedly with little progress until she intervened in early 2025 to bring county departments and the federal agency together.
“Despite repeated fires and safety risks, the Corps was unable to address the concerns on its own,” she said. “That’s when we stepped in to coordinate a comprehensive approach that includes housing outreach and environmental rehabilitation.”
The partnership has since allowed USACE crews to begin extensive cleanup operations, removing more than 100 tons of debris in June alone. The Corps will continue debris removal in the coming weeks and begin a two- to three-year rehabilitation project focused on the Rio Hondo River.
Solis said county departments will work alongside USACE to keep the area clear of encampments while rehabilitation takes place, ensuring that both the environment and public safety are protected.
Balancing Safety and Compassion
While restoration is the central goal, Solis said she remains focused on ensuring that unhoused residents receive continued support. She pointed to programs like The Shower of Hope, which has provided mobile hygiene services at Whittier Narrows and across Los Angeles County.
“Even as we transition services away from Whittier Narrows due to budget cuts, programs like The Shower of Hope will continue at the LA General Medical Center campus,” she said. “Our commitment to providing pathways to housing and stability remains unwavering.”
Solis also highlighted her recent motion directing county agencies to identify and resolve encampments in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, which now include portions of Whittier Narrows. This effort brings together the Fire Department, LAHSA, and HOST to prevent future encampments in high-risk areas.
“Keeping Whittier Narrows safe means protecting both the people who visit the park and those who once called it home,” Solis said. “We can’t simply move people out—we have to move them forward.”
A Continuing Commitment to the Community
Solis acknowledged the patience of nearby residents and reiterated that her office will continue to lead cleanup and coordination efforts until the area is fully restored.
“The work at Whittier Narrows is about more than debris removal,” she said. “It’s about reclaiming public land for the community while providing real opportunities for those who have struggled without housing.”
For updates on encampment resolution and cleanup progress, residents can visit the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative’s website at homeless.lacounty.gov.
Keyphrase: Whittier Narrows cleanup
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