A quiet park, that can quite noisy when soccer is being played. On a football sunday, there was no…read moresoccer so my daughter and I took a leisurely walk around the park, following a Pokemon route that somebody had established (no worries if you have no idea what I'm talking about...somebody who plays Pokemon Go would understand). There are two tennis courts here, with lights allowing for nighttime play. There is also a small skate park. Alas, neither were being used...in fact, there were hardly any children around, even on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon.

My daughter had a soccer game here on a Sunday morning, Sept 2022. While the soccer pitch is…read morelocated "across the street" Drake Park, we could not seem to find access to the lower field from Loma Vista, and made a left on Chester and another left in DeForest to access the small lot for the "Drake/Chavez Greenbelt Park." Assuming this is all part of the Drake Park proper, but it took a little intuition to find the entrance for our first visit. And still, the parking lot is small, filled with litter, human waste, and lots of broken auto glass... And it's about a 200 yard walk to the entrance of the artificial turf soccer field. Much of the human detritus in the parking lot is likely attributed to the considerable homeless population that is evident in the immediate area: dozens of people were camped out just across the street, in the dirt lot area adjacent to the river channel. That same dirt lot is variably covered with piles of demolition construction materials haphazardly dumped by who knows who? In pure defiance of posted signs prohibiting dumping. Other "unhoused Angelinos" seem to be wandering about the park, utilizing senses beyond my standard five (sight, smell, taste, hearing, and feeling) to experience things I can only imagine.... and a couple had set up camp in the park's landscaping adjacent to the walking path. Not so much unsafe as much as unsanitary This part of the park features what appears to be some kind of community garden - - locked and secured behind 10 foot chain-link fences. there is a public park restroom with only 2 of the 8 single seater stalls unlocked, and both are horrific inside. Some beautiful wall murals are marred by tagging. Much of the park here is adjacent to industrial yards, and most of the bordering landscape is littered with garbage. The soccer field is actually quite beautiful: artificial turf field with a perimeter fence. I laughed a little bit at the idea that this was a "green belt" and the soccer field was artificial turf... But there is certainly some actual real grass field in this park, and some California native plants along the periphery. So I guess that counts in the midst of This residential-industrial interface. The air was pretty heavy with the smell of oil refinery and low tide from the nearby river channel, which was probably a bigger deal to the soccer players than it was to me as a spectator. A generous three stars for the really nice soccer field and the fact that my truck windows weren't added to the considerable collection of broken auto window glass on the ground in the parking lot. My only other Long Beach Park frame of reference is Bluff Park, so I can confidently say this is nicer.... relative, though, that comparison is...

One of my favorite local spaces to relax, people watch, journal, pic if or take a nice walk…read more Parking is tricky and I don't want to share my secret but you won't be disappointed here.

Nice small long (short distance) mini part, part of Long Beach mini park along the Ocean Blvd…read moreoverlooking the oceans great view of the waterfront and Queen Mary boat and downtown LB. Perfect sport for sunset or sunrise.

Reservations are needed for this lovely little garden tucked into the middle of the CSULB campus,…read moreso we made ours the night before and grabbed a 12:00 PM Sunday spot. One thing to know before you go: check the operating hours. The garden was closing at 1:00 that day, so our visit was shorter than we would have liked. About 15 minutes before closing they started rounding everyone up, which was completely understandable, but next time I'd definitely book earlier. We brought Billy's mom and dad with us, and his father is 92 amazing years old, so we're always paying attention to how much walking, stress, parking drama, or general nonsense an outing involves. This one was about as easy as it gets. There's paid parking right next to the garden. I think we paid around $6.50, and the payment system was simple enough. Once you're inside, it's just beautiful. Little bridges, waterfalls, colorful koi everywhere (bonus! tons of baby koi this time!) lilies on the pond, flowers, and these bright red dragonflies flying around that completely caught my attention. There were families, students, people sketching, people feeding the fish, just a really nice mix of people quietly enjoying the space. What I especially like is that you don't have to make a whole production out of it. You can stroll, sit for a while, watch the koi, cross a bridge, look at the water, and just enjoy being somewhere pretty. Small, peaceful, easy, and genuinely lovely. It makes for a really nice family outing, and it's one of those places that's good to keep in your back pocket when you want to do something without committing to an entire day.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a peaceful hidden gem tucked inside California State…read moreUniversity, Long Beach. I walked into a space that is smaller than some larger Japanese gardens, but the layout feels carefully planned with winding paths, traditional landscaping, a koi pond, waterfalls, bridges, and quiet corners throughout. It is the type of place where taking your time matters more than trying to see everything quickly, and the smaller size actually makes the experience feel more intimate. The garden feels like a world apart from the campus surrounding it, and the transition from the university grounds to the garden is immediate and effective. The koi pond is easily the centerpiece of the garden and one of the most enjoyable parts to spend time around. I found myself lingering by the water, watching the fish move through the pond as the sunlight filtered through the trees. The fish are large and active, and the surrounding greenery, stone features, and water elements create a very relaxing atmosphere. The garden does a good job balancing natural scenery with traditional Japanese design, with each section offering a slightly different view and feeling as I walked through. The bridges and stone lanterns add to the sense of place, and the sound of the waterfalls creates a calming background that stays with you as you move through the space. What I liked most about this garden is how calm it feels despite being located on a college campus. It feels separated from the surrounding area once you enter, making it a nice place for a quiet walk, photography, or just taking a break. The landscaping is well maintained, and the entire space has a slower pace that encourages you to actually stop and appreciate the details rather than rushing through. The garden's design rewards a slow approach, with each turn in the path offering a slightly different perspective on the pond, the plants, and the stonework. The visit is fairly quick since the garden is compact, but it works well as a relaxing stop rather than a destination that takes up an entire afternoon. Reservations are required, so it is worth checking availability before going. Admission is free, although parking is an extra cost and can be the main inconvenience, especially during busy campus hours. The garden's location on campus makes it accessible, but the parking situation can require a bit of patience. Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a beautiful spot if you are looking for a peaceful escape rather than a large attraction. The koi pond, thoughtful design, and quiet atmosphere make it a place worth visiting, especially on a nice day when you can take your time walking through the garden. It offers a brief but meaningful pause from the surrounding city and campus life, and the care that has gone into maintaining the space is evident in every corner.

Marina Vista Park is a great community space. There is plenty of green space, a playground, and…read moretennis and pickleball courts. Restrooms are available and are well kept with sinks (but no soap, BYO). There's also a water fountain which even has a dog bowl for your furry friends. The Marina Vista Pickleball group plays here most mornings and offers free lessons to new players twice a week as well as daily open play. Lots of fun and a great way to get out and meet new people.

Came here to take my toddler to burn off some energy and loved this park! There is free parking in…read morea lot and street, lots of green grass, a shaded playground, and tennis courts. When I was there there were people playing pickle ball. The place overall seemed clean and you can see the view of water. Just an fyi the playground is sand around it.

Nice park with lots of shade. Parking on street. Close to 2nd st where there's restaurants and…read morecoffee shops. Lots of toys that people donate. It's gotten more full throughout the years. There's a few benches to sit and there's tables like maybe 4. There's a younger area to play and an older area for older kids. There's sand to play in and for the most part cement and soft turf. Two swings, no restrooms.

This is a very nice playground. No dogs are allowed, so there is no poop (left behind by some…read moreowners). There are sand-areas that have some toys left by some parents for all the kids to play. We like this little playground. There are trees for shade.

My kid and I love this park. We especially love coming here during the summer when they have their…read morefree jazz/music concerts.

I love this little neighborhood park. It has a nice playground and a tennis court. So much nice…read moregreen grass. We had a great afternoon family party this weekend pre Easter celebration. The dogs were out sniffing around, squirrels were squirreling. Kids playing games hunting for eggs. Bathrooms were decent they could use some work but it seems most parks fall short in this arena. Since it's a neighborhood park there really isn't a parking lot but there was ample parking I didn't have to circle the park found a spot immediately. If I was to have any con is I could hear the train every time it went by but I'm sure if you live near you auto tune it out. Other than that I'll definitely visit again as my DIL just moved around the corner!!

If you drive up the hill, you'll find plenty of parking spaces, and there's a public restroom for…read moreconvenience. (always have your own wipes In hand) It's such a wonderful place for picnics with a stunning view of the city, and there are many beautiful trails to explore. And honestly, at night, it feels especially special and peaceful with that city view.

Came to bring our babygirl to see the beautiful lights of the city from the hill top. My dad always…read morebrought us here when we were younger and I forgot about it. My dad mentioned it the evening we went and our daughter enjoyed it. I like that they have the telescopes for free, I remember they use to charge way back when we came before. It was so clean and very beautiful.

Beautiful place to enjoy nature. There are a lot of squirrels that are not afraid of humans. The…read moreduck pound has tons of activities going on depending what time of day you visit. Ducks, turtles, and sometimes fishing. Tons of walking, biking, pet strolls, picnics, workouts, baseball and soccer sport.. Great place to relax.

Heartwell Park is one of our favorite parks to visit to go on walks the park itself has lots of…read moretrees and shade. The park has a lake in the middle with a lot ducks and birds. This lake is super long and goes for about three blocks long, some portions of the park has baseball and soccer fields.