Parks in Play: Activating Public Spaces Through Art

Green space, park access, and trees

South Bay

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Art in parks transforms green spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity, learning, and connection. Programs like art installations, theater workshops, festivals, and concerts become accessible to all—removing barriers such as ticket prices, tuition, and parking costs. This promotes equity by welcoming people from all backgrounds to engage with culture in an inclusive, familiar setting. Public art also fosters community pride and cohesion by reflecting local stories and identities. Parks become outdoor classrooms where children and families explore diverse cultural narratives in fun, interactive ways. Art activates parks, making them more vibrant, safer, and inviting. It also supports emotional wellness, helping people reflect, reconnect, and find calm in natural settings. Economically, it uplifts local artists and boosts tourism. Ultimately, art in parks reminds us that creativity belongs in everyday life, offering shared, meaningful experiences that enrich communities.

The City of Torrance intends to enhance its public parks—vital green spaces that offer environmental, social, and health benefits—by expanding arts-based programming that brings people together. With support from this grant, the City will launch new cultural initiatives designed to activate outdoor public spaces, deepen community connections, and make the arts more accessible to all residents.
Building on an already robust calendar of events, the City will present BLIMPENNIAL, a groundbreaking outdoor exhibition of large-scale contemporary inflatable art. These monumental, fan-inflated sculptures will transform a Torrance park into an open-air museum, inviting the public to explore, gather, and engage with the arts in new and unexpected ways. While visually captivating for audiences of all ages, the artworks also reflect diverse conceptual themes, offering opportunities for reflection and dialogue.
Inflatable art is an emerging global trend, with major festivals and exhibitions taking place around the world. BLIMPENNIAL will be the first major presentation of its kind in Southern California, and the first to bring this internationally celebrated form into a free, local, public park setting. By bringing large-scale contemporary art into a familiar and accessible environment, Torrance will foster cultural equity, spark curiosity, and create memorable shared experiences that strengthen community ties.

If Blimpennial is successful, Los Angeles County will become a more connected, inclusive, and culturally vibrant region—where public parks are not only spaces for recreation, but also dynamic platforms for creative learning, cultural expression, and community pride. By transforming a Torrance park into a temporary open-air museum, Blimpennial will make large-scale contemporary art accessible to families from all backgrounds, eliminating financial and geographic barriers to cultural participation. This project will help redefine what public parks can be: inclusive civic spaces that reflect and celebrate the diversity of our communities. By bringing a bold and joyful art form into everyday outdoor settings, Blimpennial will strengthen community identity, promote emotional well-being, and inspire a sense of wonder and possibility. Ultimately, it will help make Los Angeles County a more beautiful, imaginative, and united place to live.