Cute park in the middle of a neighborhood. Play area for kids, open space, picnic tables, benches…read moreand bathrooms, what else do we need?! Saw butterflies up in a eucalyptus tree which was a bonus as well as a couple of swallowtails that were sunning themselves in the grass. Free street parking available adjacent to the park. Have fun!

Nice scenery & view of the Park. Especially for parties picnics & stuff like that. Been there a few…read moretimes.

Imagine rummaging through a treasure chest, looking for the bobble that is worth the most. Your…read morehands touch different forms of riches like bricks and Spanish Pirate coins of gold, and also strands of pearls, mounds of rubies and sapphires. You stop searching when both your hands cradle a diamond so large it could not fit into a happy meal box. Thinking you hold the key to your future, personal island, you ignore the green jewel slightly visible amongst doubloons, all the while not knowing that the green jewel was an emerald that dated back to one of the first QI dynasty's and thus worth 100 times more than the diamond you bolted with. That is basically what Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park is, a sprawling, green oasis that only shows its green edges just a bit so it kind remains a dormant emerald of lush price. I have been to this park many times, and thus I know that if one walks a bit into the park innards, one will cross a big lake. Not great lake big, not Chicago river big, but it is for sure not the type of lake that can be described as small, or medium, or dirty with trash. It is a clear blue lake that can be witnessed while sitting down to call calm from the ripples unto you, or you can fish there, if that is your pleasure, or you can just walk past it and admire the blue beauty. When you are walking make sure to keep your eyes on the ground on occasion, because bird remains can be squished. The remains on the ground are logs. I know this might sound elementary but on this day I connected that bird remains dropped from above go splat. I always assumed that bird remains were a splat from inception. But after this visit I realized that bird remains that are delivered close to the ground remain logs but delivered far from above are splats. If you are into ducks and geese, you will see these walking about, not frolicking, there was none of that just peaceful strolls. I clipped a video of a single goose or duck taking a waddle, and eating grass while its neck was crooked. Of particular wonder, was the bird chirps and tweets, audible- somewhat- in the video. These bird sounds were more present when I was there, of course, so they should be appreciated, not by listening to a video, but by listening to them while you take your own video of them. I think the greatest asset of this park is how big it is iin the inside- not Grand central park big, not football field big- but big enough for it to have different trails that lead to different areas of the park. Like this one time, I went to the park and I found an area that had like broken ground and in the center there was a tire. I felt like that was a perfect place to sit and meditate. In the center of cracked ground, atop a tire. But here is the thing, I have tried to find it, and have failed. I have found it other times, it is not like a shifting dimensional place, it is just not easily found cause of the size of the park and its different forks. As I walked the park, I thought of forks in the road and how they might impact the life trajectory of a human being. I pondered on how sometimes we take the left instead of the right path and how this means our life changed completely because of that decision. Taking a path and not the other is for sure a huge decision, not like leaving lettuce out of your subway turkey, but more like not getting lettuce on your Turkey Cobb. After a decision is made, after a fork path is chosen, and the other fork path is left behind, how can a person continue in peace with the choice they made and not really wonder what life would be if the other path was chosen? I do not know the answer to this big question but I guess it comes from fully understanding what will both paths demand of us as we walk through them, and what they will offer once we complete them not only in tangible and concrete ways but also in how they will help us fulfill our heart and hope's purpose. Like, after a path is crossed can we ever really know that where we arrived was always meant to be? I guess not. But I do not want to settle and just say that this is the reason why the journey is more important than the destination because the destination is never the afterthought. Thus in some cases the path belongs to the destination and the choice of which path to take belongs to the person. So before starting a path a person should, when ever possible, think, not only about the journey, not only about the destination, but also about how the path will make them feel from start, to middle and finish, and let those thoughts also define the choice of which path to take when we humans face a fork in the road. Yeah, this park will also have you collecting your thoughts, and I wonder what you will do with them. If reflection by a pond, is not your thing this park also much more. It offers the opportunity for steps that can be completed while walking or running. If you have kids and are looking for a free way to entertain them they also have a play area and grass.

Review #958 2026-022…read more This write-up for Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park is long overdue. My son was born at Kaiser Permanente South Bay Center, which is right next door, & my husband wanted me to "waddle-walk" at the park while I recovered from childbirth. O_o As my toddler grew, we started exploring parks away from home (there's 2 within walking distance), & started visiting Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in 2018 & more frequently in 2021 after the pandemic lockdown. According to the city's webpage, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park is home to 300+ species of migratory birds... wowza! The lake is part of the natural habitat of S. CA for native plants & animals. I'm not a birdwatcher so I'm unfamiliar with our feathered friends at the park. I only recognized Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, American White Pelicans, & Hummingbirds (not sure of the species). I've seen a raptor once, but couldn't tell what it was. According to Wikipedia, this is one of the best places to see the secretive "Marsh Wren." With my deteriorating eyesight, I highly doubt I can spot this elusive bird that's known for camouflage, ground creeping instead of flying, & hiding in vegetation. Some guy did spot on on 01/19/26, likely a bird watcher because his name pops up a lot on the log, though he didn't post a pic for validation. If you're the curious type, there's a bird list log of what's been spotted here: eBird (https://ebird.org/). There's lots of features at this park: children's playground, picnic tables & BBQ pits, fitness zone, bike & jogging paths, hiking trail, fishing (must have valid fishing license; catch & release only), & 9-hole par-36 golf course (east of the lake); there's a disc golf course but I don't recall seeing this since I'm usually at the playground with the kiddos, playing frisbee in the shade, watching my hubby's workout at the therapeutic fitness area, or doing my steps on the jogging path. Sometimes my kids would run through the grass, scaring the birds, & I have to lecture them to stop in case an angry mob of geese decides to turn around & attack them because they feel threatened. Yeesh! Luckily it was a "young & dumb" phase that quickly passed. At one point, boating & fishing was allowed in Lake Machado but the water quality took a dump & became toxic so no one is allowed in the water, & "Catch & Release" signs have been posted with warnings not to eat the fish from the lake. We usually park in the parking lot off Vermont Ave. that's somewhat close to the playground; that free lot has more than enough space, no matter day or time of our visits. The 231-acre park should have other lots surrounding the park. We haven't explored the east side of the lake so not sure what's there except for the golf course. What's Interesting: There was an infamous alligator named "Reggie" that lived at the park between 2005 - 2007, & was finally captured on 05/24/2007 & relocated to the L.A. Zoo. He was likely an illegal pet that grew too large & was set free at the park. His former owners likely are unaware this is more harmful to the animal & environmentally harmful because the park is not a suitable habitat/home. Reggie got his 5-mins. of fame & then some... we even saw him at the zoo & shared his infamous story with the kiddos. Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park is a lovely park to enjoy a picnic &/or BBQ, make use of their free therapeutic fitness equipment & get in shape, get lots of extra steps in on the jogging path (my kiddos prefer using their scooters or bikes), or come out & just get some free air.

UPDATE 1: Review #10 2026-024…read more Since my decade old review, Charles H. Wilson Park is due for an update. Major Changes: 2005: Annenberg Tree House 2009: Fitness Zone 2012: Turf Training Facility 2018: Children's Playground & Splash Pad 2024: Community Sports Complex's Roller Rink 2025: Tennis Courts LED Lighting Current Project: It was announced in 01/2025 that 8 new dedicated, lighted, & ADA-accessible pickleball courts will be built near (north) the existing courts. Early 2026 completion expected. Amenities: * Amphitheater * Basketball Courts * Batting Cages * Electric Car Charging Stations (PlugShare) * Farmer's Market (Tuesdays & Saturdays) * Fitness Course 0.91-mi. * Fitness Zone * Futsal * Horseshoe Courts * Indoor Sports Center * Live Steamer Trains (1st Sunday, 3rd Saturday) * Paddle Tennis/Pickleball Courts * Picnic & BBQ Areas (bouncer accessible with permit) * Playground * Restrooms * Roller Hockey Rink * Sand Volleyball Court * Softball Diamonds * Splash Pad * Sports Center * Tennis Courts * Tree House Donated by The Annenberg Foundation, the 2.5K sq. ft. Tree House was designed by Treehouse Guys, LLC & is the 1st universally-accessible tree house in a CA public space. The "fresh air gym" includes kinetic exercise machines, intuitive adjustable resistance machines, & calisthenics station for body weight exercises. I love this outdoor gym but the OCD in me has issues with not spraying down (sanitizing) equipment after use which is common for indoor gyms & it gets really dusty/dirty particularly after raining. Batting cage operator Tyler Sports, Inc. helped turn the defunct skatepark into a 10K sq. ft. artificial training facility for futsal & baseball/softball fielding; there's 2 netted pitching tunnels & 2 turf sports fields. This helped minimize non-rule abiding soccer players from practicing on the tennis & pickleball courts, & damaging the nets. Futsal is a fast-paced, scaled down version of outdoor soccer. The children's playground was part of a citywide initiative to modernize aging play structures & swing to meet current safety standards. I love the intricate "Spherical Spider Web" rope-based climbing structure! There's a smaller rock climbing wall for the younger set or kids who prefer to be closer to the ground. The only iffy equipment is the Stand-Up Seesaw; I've seen some kids accidentally falling or intentionally crawling underneath the seesaw while in motion. Yikes! That same year a splash pad was added to replace the defunct pond (which I miss dearly... I loved our local ducks!), turning the community's eyesore into a spot to cool off during spring & summer, using recirculating water system to conserve water (yeah, that means don't drink the water!). L.A. Galaxy & TUDN partnered to refurbish the rink's floor surface with Sports Court Defense tiles that are designed to be a safer, shock-absorbing surface, & better support sports: roller hockey, roller derby, pickleball (6 courts), futsal (3 courts), etc. LED lighting was added to the tennis courts for reduced operating costs, improved visibility (that would be me for my old fart eyes), & energy efficiency. I officially tried pickleball for the 1st time this year at YEE Badge Day at PowerPlay Pickleball (refer to Review #953), & I'm hooked! So I am especially excited for these new lighted courts... woot, woot!! The farmer's market has grown so much that they expanded to the small lot west of the softball field nearest to Crenshaw Blvd.; most of the food vendors are located there in addition to the ones near Dee Hardison Sports Center. I met Mel while taking a pic of the horseshoe courts; he's registered with the City to maintain the courts & was doing some upkeep when he spotted me. Mel's so thoughtful & generous with his time... I learned Ted Allen horseshoes are the best (unique finger grips for consistent throws, expertly designed for balance), about the Flip or Turn style (he prefers turn) throws, differences between kid & adult horseshoes, court clay, etc. Ted broke many records to his 10 world championships as well as holding them, including 72 consecutive ringers -- wowza! He even demoed a couple of pitches for pics & hit 2 ringers... what a surprising moment for writing this update! Charles H. Wilson Park is a 44-acre family-friendly, recreational hub that truly has a l'il something for everyone!

It's a huge space and there are lots to do for everyone here. The playground can use some…read moremaintenance. There was a caution tape around one area that kids were still climbing all over. And the seesaw was extremely rickety. The tree house area is cool. There's an amphitheater style area, plenty of grassy area, and a loop you can exercise on that's roughly short of a mile long.

I had the honor of adding to a gender reveal event held at their event space. Close bathrooms nice…read morelarge room if tables are spaced properly. Here is a display I create for the event Instagram.com/goldenfoxcrafts

It felt really refreshing spending time at Harbor City Recreation Center when I visited with…read moresomeone, because the whole place has this open, energetic atmosphere that teenagers would enjoy a lot. The fields and courts looked so inviting, and I noticed right away how many teenagers were hanging out there, playing basketball, skating around, or just relaxing with their friends in a way that made the whole area feel lively and welcoming. What surprised me the most was how easy it was to move from one activity to another without anything feeling crowded or rushed, which makes it a perfect spot for teenagers who like having space to be active and creative. Even though I had been aware of this recreation center before, I didn't realize how much there was to appreciate until I walked around and saw how naturally people were having fun there. I really liked how comfortable it felt to just enjoy the environment without any pressure, and how the whole place seemed designed for people to make their own kind of fun. I never doubted that the experience was going to turn out the way I hoped it would. I only visited Harbor City Recreation Center one time in my life before making this review, but it stood out to me as one of the most enjoyable and easygoing public spaces I've been to in a long time, and I would highly recommend that even teenagers go there because it gives them a place to play, hang out, stay active, and feel free to be themselves.

Don't take your kids to this play area! The dangers are endless. I took pictures of two. My…read moredaughters foot got stuck on a hole on one of the plastic bridges. And the holes everywhere are such a hazard!

Nice parking .. lots of grassy areas away from sports fields .. restrooms fairly clean .. kids area…read morea little small but nice .. sandbox could use cleaning of sand inside it .. tables benches for parents to look after kids playing on equipment. Wish snack bar would be open more often.. for the kids

I guess yelp is too scared to post my previous update to this Park. I posted an update review…read moreyesterday and it was not shared at all. I came here on New Year's Day DO NOT COME HERE AT ALL The park is a free-for-all with a whole bunch of locals thinking that they can run the park the way they want to there was a person in the middle a guy with two Shepherd dogs he took over the entire. Middle is throwing his ball every which way he wants so his dogs can run across the park to get the ball and run back. There was another person in the same area showing the same spot, a golden retriever, not on a leash, but not going too far from Another couple with a black Labrador who pretends they have their dog on a leash just they keep the leash attached to his neck and so if anybody walks by, they'll grab the leash pretending they're holding the leash, but then when they walk away, they let go of the A lady on the track with two miniature dogs that ran up to my huskies, which I'm not comfortable having small dogs around my huskies I'm not sure how they react. They're pretty safe but when it comes to smaller animals, I don't I don't let them smell them or get close because I'm not sure what they might do. She had her dogs off leash And at the tables near the kids area, there's three dogs with a couple there that are off leash and one of the dogs is Upon leaving the park, the oldest dog runs up to another owner who had a lab and tries to attack him. The owner calls him back, and he comes back to the table where all three of them are standing on the table. this is a message for all of you people who think it's OK to bring your dog and not put a leash on it number one first and foremost. It is 100% illegal to have your dogs off leash. There's signs all over the park telling you what to do I will make mention that I will report every person I recorded all of you by camera to the authorities and they will write you a citation if you come back to the park and do the same actions as you did today. It's time that people follow the rules and it doesn't matter how many years you've been coming to the park. It does not matter if you live down the street. It does not matter if your grandpa put in the grass for the park it does not matter any kind of ability that you felt that you have some kind of ownership of the park it does not belong to you. It is a shared space, and it should be respected as so. And every single last one of you is very disrespectful to think that you could do whatever you like what a joke I hope to God that you guys learned your lesson and God willing I hope nothing horrible happens to your animals.

Well kept giant dog park with multiple enclosures and an additional giant field. All with grass and…read moredog bags. There is also restrooms and a child playground. Lots of paved paths to walk. I can tell they are doing a lot with the area given the recent Halloween board/ events by the restroom and facility shed.

Lovely neighborhood park! This park is a hidden gem - you need to be careful when driving by to not…read moremiss it. Great place for a kiddo party. Be careful on the grassy fields as there are holes from the gophers. Nice trail around the park to walk around. - Large grassy field - Play area for kids - Benches - Parking is easy Love this park, will be back!

Great little hidden gem to take the kids and/or for a seclude picnic. Huge grass area to lay out or…read moreplay with a 1/4 mile paved walkway for scootering, biking, or skating. Large playground with swings and a supersize slide. Bbq pits. And spectacular view looking over the city... and, squirrels.

Great little park hidden in a residential area…read more No bathrooms but still great. Play area is big enough for little ones to play in

Review #878 2025-051…read more Our family alternates between Torrance Park & Charles H. Wilson Park (refer to Review #10), favoring the latter because of their weekend activities: farmer's market & steamers train. I drafted a review shortly thereafter but haven't been able to finish with revisions in 2016 & 2021, so almost a decade later... this is it! Torrance Park isn't as active as Wilson Park, but one past summer (2021), Ultra! - Torrance Art Museum & Torrance Park hosted "Even The Trees Will Sing If We Are Quiet Enough" (for more details, refer to website: http://finishing-school-art.net/Even-The-Trees-Will-Sing-If-We-Are-Quiet-Enough). Even The Trees Will Sing If We Are Quiet Enough is a participatory sculpture project situated among various old-growth trees. The artwork can be described as sonified interspecies furniture constructed with recycled wood & electronic components. The aum-like buzzing vibrations transduced through the architectural forms are a livestream of the trees' living electrical signals that visitors can sound-bathe in during daylight hours. Visitors reported that the tree sounds are also reminiscent of cicadas & other insects heard in wooded areas. This interspecies collaboration fosters direct connection & gives voice & focus to these elder residents that commemorate time & existence and bears witness to local histories & provides comfort & wisdom. When my daughter was taking taekwondo, the studio held a summer picnic & awards ceremony at the Outdoor Band Shell. Other than that, we come here when Wilson Park is crowded. Torrance Park has similar amenities: reservable picnic area with decent shade, bouncer accessibility, BBQ, playground, baseball/softball diamond, basketball court & horseshoe courts (though not as many), restrooms (we haven't had to use it so I'm unsure if it's clean &/or stocked), but they don't have an indoor gym/facility. There's a small area that's kinda like a corn field maze, not sure of the plants to create this mini maze, that my kids enjoyed playing tag with each other & friends. There's plenty of parking off Arlington Ave., some street spaces on Santa Fe Ave., not sure if there's a private lot off Cabrillo Ave. on the park's east side near the field. The park isn't as maintained as I would like; my son was riding his bike along the uneven walking paths & flipped over, head first, crashing on the hard asphalt & badly injured his nose with some facial scratches. Luckily, he was wearing his helmet or it could have been worse. He was 3 or 4 YO at the time of the accident, & wasn't biking on 2-wheels really fast. Quite a few playgrounds use the soft rubbery surfacing to cushion falls, here it's still sand unlike the red tractor. It's strange that they would renovate that instead of the playground that likely has more kids running & jumping around with a higher probability of falls. When the kids were older, in elementary & middle school, we're rarely at the playground & use the open grassy area to play catch with either a baseball or football, jump rope. Our daughter is currently in high school, she sometimes practices flag & rifle (color guard) in the shade. In my kids' toddler days (2011 - 2017), there's been more happy (not really) wanderers loitering & sleeping at the park, & hooligans causing chaos & mischief so we limited our time here. It's been better now that they're older, & it feels safer now with more families around. Not our first pick, but it's a decent enough back-up for outdoor play & physical activities. Come out & play... & get some CA sunshine!

The good: There's a basketball court, grassy area, a lot of…read moreswings and a playground that was appropriate for my toddler. The most interesting part of the playground was the super large fire truck. The flooring is sand. There are covered picnic bench areas. There are shady areas from the trees. My kid enjoyed picking dandelions and little weed flowers from the grass here. The bad: The park feels s bit old. There are weeds and the equipment is a bit worn down. The interesting: We parked in a large parking lot across the street but there's also street parking around the park.

Lomita park's grassy area is smaller than some parks but the recreation room is very large. The…read moreLomita Railroad Museum held its annual tea which easily accommodated at least 150+ crowd. Facilities has a small breakout room with partial kitchen. Great venue for parties and major events. There are two parking lots available with ample street parking.

Last review of 2024 is for a park in Lomita that we've been to every year for Halloween, been once…read moreto the annual Easter hunt, and once got a birthday party. Today we came because it's the start of week two of winter break and we need to work off all the energy. It's a nice park with two playgrounds as do just parks. One for smaller kids and one for older. There are lots of ladders to climb abc slides to slide. Today the older kids slides were wet and grimy so we stuck with the younger kids ones There are three covered areas which can be rented for parties. It's a nice park and offers a good change from our local park.