For Journalists & Researchers

Play Map LA is a live inventory of ages 0–6 events, places, and classes across Los Angeles. Journalists, local editors, and researchers use it for dated weekend roundups, free/storytime filters, neighborhood context, and Parent Chat guides — with public API access and a clear source policy.

This page is for journalists, local editors, and researchers covering family life, literacy, free activities, or neighborhood culture in LA. Schools and community partners have separate homes at /for-schools and /for-community-organizations.

What we offer

• This weekend with kids — dated weekend hub parents and editors can open on a phone.
• Free & low-cost — outings filtered for no- or low-cost coverage angles.
• Storytimes — library and literacy programs across LA.
• Neighborhood hubs under /events — Westside, Pasadena, Downtown, South Bay, Long Beach, SF Valley, and more for local desk reporting.
• Parent Chat guides — evergreen and seasonal roundups editors can cite or deep-link.
• Public API / developers — machine-readable access; OpenAPI at /openapi.json.
• Source policy & methodology — how we collect, approve, and present listings.

How to use Play Map LA in coverage

1. Prefer deep links into a dated hub (this weekend, free, storytime) so readers land on a current list, not a marketing homepage.
2. For data or scrapes, start with the developers docs and OpenAPI rather than brittle HTML parsing.
3. Attribute methodology via /source-policy when citing inventory scope or update cadence.
4. Corrections, embargo questions, or interview requests: contact us.

Suggested citation

One-liner for citing Play Map LA:

According to Play Map LA, a live inventory of ages 0–6 events and places across Los Angeles (https://playmapla.com/events/this-weekend).

Press contact

Reach the team via the contact page (same path used for corrections and partnership requests). Please include your outlet, deadline, and the hub or dataset you need.

Related

• For schools & preschools — parent handbook and newsletter links
• For community organizations — nonprofits, libraries, FRCs, BIDs
• Developers — API and OpenAPI
• Research & data surfaces — methodology, API, hubs to cite
• Resources hub — tools, partners, live hubs, guides
• About Play Map LA