I was driving past the area and saw the sign for the recreation center and quickly stopped by. I'm…read morealways looking for nice parks to bring my dog to play or to sniff and practice training. I'm impressed by the spaciousness, there is so much to do here. I see a softball field and a large dirt path around the whole center as well as so much grass they might use that for soccer and I see more far away. This is like a gem in the middle of bunch of busy streets! Parking is easy and there are tons of spots but also street parking if you want. I read some other reviews that the clean up isn't great but I'm here today on a Tueaday at 11am and I see zero trash, everything looks really clean so maybe they've improved the maintenance. My only qualm is the trees are far and in between on the side I parked so I wouldn't be able to come on sunny days, I'm very sun sensitive and the trees are few and off the dirt path. There is a shadier side across the way where the kids playground is and that looks nice but I would avoid it with my dog. By the way if you are missing your white metal water bottle, you left it in this beautiful tree here by the parking lot.

This is a great recreation center in the San Fernando Valley…read more There is a large playground in the southeast corner of the park. There is a pool. There is an indoor gym/facility. There's an artificial turf soccer field. There are also batting cages? But I don't really know the details there. There is a large dirt track around four baseball fields. Around the track there are various pieces of exercise equipment. Be aware, there are always a ton of dogs. A lot of them off leash. The main reason this place gets four stars though is that there isn't enough parking and the parking there is, is terrible.

People don't do much reviews on parks. Why? I don't know. I have been to this park 4 times in the…read morepast. I truly like this park very much. It's close to home and offers a lot of activities to do. It has children's playground equipment, 2 basketball courts, 4 BIG, tennis courts, a dirt track, clean bathrooms, picnic area, nice spacious landscape and the most important, it's kept nice and clean. This park is one of my favorite parks in Studio City. They have recreation areas and can let you sign up for sports/classes that interests you. Recently, I had taken few classes with couple of their teachers/coaches and they are WONDERFUL! Earlier this morning I went to play tennis with one of my friends. Tennis is one of my favorite sports to watch and to play. We don't keep score. We just like to play and have fun. You can walk, jug, people walk their dogs, kids, they have picnic areas and do a lot of kids birthday parties.. or you can just simply sit in silence and enjoy nature, the sunlight and have a good, peaceful time. Private lot parking, or street nearby parking. They are closed on Sundays. Kind of weird, but it's their rules, not mine. That's when people usually spend time with their families. I am not going to dock a star for that since it meets all the other amenities & requirements.

Quaint- Tennis courts, baseball area, and lots of space for a neighborhood park…read more Construction impedes the walking path so as of September 2024 it isn't very relaxing. I'm hoping to find a public track & field type of walk/run path in the valley! The sand is nice on my knees but annoying when ends up in my shoes!

The Japanese Garden in the Sepulveda Basin is such a beautiful oasis in the Valley, especially in…read morean area that can get so hot. It feels peaceful, well cared for, and instantly calming the moment you walk in. There is a small $5 admission fee, which honestly feels completely worth it, especially because it clearly helps keep the grounds so clean, beautiful, and well maintained. I brought my parents here while they were visiting, and they absolutely loved it. If you're lucky enough to visit during the right season, you may even catch the cherry blossoms, which make the whole experience even more special. There is also plenty of parking on site, which makes visiting easy. One thing to keep in mind is that they are closed on Sundays. Also, if you have extra time, Sepulveda Basin Lake is nearby and worth checking out as well. A lovely, serene spot that feels like a hidden gem in the Valley.

The gardens are beautifully maintained with koi ponds, little bridges, stone lanterns, and…read moreperfectly trimmed bonsai. Everything feels intentional and peaceful. I went on a weekday afternoon and it was super quiet, which made it even better for just slowing down and wandering. There are plenty of benches to sit and take it all in, and the sound of the water alone is enough to lower your blood pressure. It's not huge, but that's part of the charm. You can take your time and really appreciate the details without feeling rushed. I also appreciated how clean everything was and you can tell they put a lot of care into maintaining the space.

When you arrive parking is plentiful along the borders of the park or in the parking spaces. I love…read morecoming to this park for dog training and for spending time with my dog allowing her to sniff and run on an extended leash (either 30 to 45 feet leash). The great thing about this park is that there is a sidewalk to walk on to walk the perimeter of the lake, or there are many areas of large green fields that surround the park. I have seen other dogs off leash, and normally this gives me great hesitation, but in a large park like this, you can be far enough distance away from everyone else and their dogs to avoid them. Now that it's spring, everything is blossoming and blooming, but be careful, when I was here the grass had not yet been mown, and there are so many foxtails growing right now. So many got caught in my shoes and thankfully I checked my dog's body completely and her feet and none had stuck to her. When things are mown it's great but also beware of the ants. When I was on the side of the park that has the football field sized grass area, I was watching my dog sniff and play and suddenly I felt something biting me. I looked down and dozens of red ants were climbing me from the dirt. I must have mistakenly stood on an ant mound. Thirdly, just also keep aware of coyotes, I have seen a coyote several times at Lake Balboa and they do not seem fearful whatsoever and they are just walking around casually in the middle of the day. This park is a true gem because of how beautiful and serene it makes life feel. There are people fishing in the lake, walkers, runners, people relaxing on benches reading, friends playing cards, birthday parties or other events, people bicycling or skateboarding. I love this park.

It's one of those places that feels like a mini escape without having to leave LA. The lake is…read morebeautiful, especially in the mornings and around sunset, and the walking path around it is perfect for a chill stroll, jog, or bike ride. There's always a good mix of people here families, couples, dog walkers, and folks just trying to get some fresh air. The park is spacious, well-maintained, and surprisingly peaceful considering how central it is. Plenty of picnic tables, grassy areas to relax, and spots to just sit and people-watch. The ducks and birds add to the whole vibe. Parking is usually easy, which is a huge plus, and the restrooms are decent for a public park. On weekends it can get busy, but it never feels overwhelming because there's so much space. Whether you're looking for a quick walk, a picnic date, or a calm place to clear your head, Lake Balboa is a solid go-to. Definitely one of my favorite outdoor spots in the Valley.

Our little friend Toby C. turned four a couple weeks ago, and he had his birthday party at Valley…read moreVillage Park. We went with our two boys, and everyone had a grand superhero-themed time. We got easy parking right in front of the playground on a Sunday at noon. The park was large and the playground was nice, tons of space for kids to run around, and structures to climb when the mood struck. Toby's parents took over a sizable area with picnic tables, where they set up a buffet lunch and, later, cake. My three-year-old will remember this party for the orange soda ("Why are you letting me drink this?"), but I appreciated the ample, well maintained neighborhood park. I'd recommend Valley Village Park for your recreational needs in this part of town.

Updating my review as I did come back to this park with my dog to attend the Larpbo pack walk this…read moreevening. The park is very beautiful with soft grass that seems well maintained and cut and there are zero foxtails which is a big plus. I can tell everyone respects the park as there's zero trash on the ground and everyone is picking up after their dogs. We did some excersizes with our dogs in the park and then we walked around the neighborhood and then back through the park along the nice dirt trail to end. Similarly to last time, again I noted ALLOT of off leash dogs. They seem well behaved but one did decide to run away from its owner and did a full circle around our pack and the owner was chasing it. This caused several dogs to react and get riled up and it really could have been an issue if that off leash dog had decided to run at any of us, thankfully it didn't, it was just happy to run in circles until its owner caught it. Overall despite this, these distractions were actually really helpful for practicing training with my dog, and she did amazingly. There were so many other distractions too such as loud cars or motorcycles and kids and people running or biking. I guess maybe my dog leveled up because it was a very successful walk! I was very happy today with the experience. All the people who live in the neighborhood next to this park are so lucky to be so close to such a beautiful and well maintained space.

I walked from Magnolia and Supulveda to the trail. Trail was only 2.2 miles away from my current…read morelocation, so I walked. The beginning there's a steep incline where it feels like you're constantly crouching. But don't let that scare you. It's easy. Over all id rate the intensity of the hike 4/10

It's a not a long trail Very fast on the way down…read more But it really kicks my a** on the way back up Very good workout

I've been doing this trail, or these trails, since the mid to late 90s. I've typically followed the…read morecommon path, which is paved for a portion, open dirt road for a portion, and has some light hiking type trails but mostly easy. Today I took the path less traveled that leads to the main path at the center point, and it was intense but good. Highly recommend pants if you do that path. Views aren't spectacular but cool. No animals on our route today thankfully as there could've been snakes given the heat!

Nice oasis in the middle of the city! There's a parking lot…read morenear the entrance which is a major plus. ColdwaterCanyon Park isn't your typical one, but it has easy hiking trails (connects to Fryman Canyon), benches and beautiful views. Another bonus is Tree People with their nice plants, picnic benches and clena restrooms. Sometimes I like to bring a book and read, relax, enjoy the peace (when not interrupted by leaf blower at some house in the hills). There are water fountains and a snack vending machine with healthier options. This is a great place to take a walk, exercise, hike, depending what you are in the mood for. The views are amazing and it's great to be surrended by nature, so many trees and birds (I have seen many blue birds around). Keep your music to yourself (bring those earbuds), there are many shady spots and cute flowers, depends on the season. Enjoyable spot in LA if you need to recharge, exercise, get away, be in the nature!

Date: February 1, 2025…read more I think this is my first review of 2025! Woowoo! That's what motherhood does to ya. I had this park bookmarked for a while now and decided to check it out today. We were actually around the area for lunch but didn't plan to go to a park and ended up driving back this way for it. Read the reviews and was excited to check it out and I'm so glad we did! As a recent mom of three, I felt so comfortable and safe solo watching my kids here. It's a nice playground in the middle of a fenced off grassy area with a restroom right by it. I loved that the restroom was right next to the playground to make a quick trip and not worry too much about my kiddos playing. They have a bunch of trees and also shaded top above so it was nice even though it was hitting 80F still! Surprisingly all the parents around were super attentive to their kids and made sure nobody was hurting another. I heard so many kids apologize for accidentally bumping into other kids and it just felt so nice to be in a kid area with kids who were well behaved, especially bc of my toddlers. Restrooms weren't too bad for a park. Not the cleanest but definitely not the worst I've been to. Overall I'm so happy we found this park and we will definitely be back more often!

Happy new year! This tiny park has truly evolved over the years. I grew up here in the…read moreneighborhood since 1997 , this little park didn't used to have a fancy playground in the middle. It was known as the RV and homeless park because it was super sketchy with RVs everywhere and questionable activity & odd characters....fast-forward a few years later & the city pushed for this to be a family friendly, child safe space. Well, the constant activity of children and families has scared away the illegal activity and all the RVs and sketchy folks. So the cities plan worked, now families have a place to bring their kids at, plus there is no sand and it's fenced in so it's very safe. There are also nods to Jesse Owen's the Olympic medalist athlete. There is a small bathroom in the middle dogs are welcome and it's at the end of a cul-de-sac and a very low-key suburban neighborhood. It is also next to a Wendy's fast food restaurant and a gas station and across the street. Is the Korean supermarket!

I've been coming to Encino Park for years, and it's one of those neighborhood spots that just feels…read moreeasy and welcoming. The park is really spacious and well-maintained. There's plenty of grass for kids to run around, toss a ball, or just roll out a blanket for a picnic. The playground is solid, clean, safe, and usually full of families in the afternoons. I like that there's enough shade from the trees so you're not baking in the sun the whole time (which is a big deal in the Valley). What I appreciate most is how relaxed the vibe is. It's not overly crowded or chaotic like some bigger parks in LA. You'll see people walking their dogs (on leash), neighbors chatting, and kids practicing soccer. There are also tennis courts and a community center, which makes it feel like a true local hub. Parking is usually pretty manageable, especially compared to other parks in Los Angeles. Bathrooms are basic but generally kept in decent shape. Overall, Encino Park is simple, clean, and family-friendly. It's not flashy, but it's dependable and sometimes that's exactly what you want in a neighborhood park.

This is a nice neighborhood park. There are a couple tennis courts for free and I like that they…read morehave an enclosed playground. It's pretty clean. The playground is not that large though, so it can feel pretty crowded at times. They also have a little track where kids can ride bikes and scooters separate from the playground so they have plenty of space to cruise around. The grassy area has picnic tables and BBQs. There's lots of space to lay a blanket out as well. Sometimes there can be people with their dogs off leash running around like crazy which isn't great. I have also seen kids on motorized bikes ripping through the park around other people who were in the park. Just because this park is so small, if there's anything unsatisfactory going on, you're going to see it or be near it.

This is a great spot. I love the trails for a run or a bike ride. The trail winds up through a…read moreshaded grove of oak and walnut trees alongside a small stream, so it looks like a peaceful nature escape right in the city and it really could be! That said, my experience was mixed. The trail is very natural and rugged, way less groomed park and way more nature path through the hills. It's narrow, often overgrown, and there aren't any clear signs, so you're basically figuring it out as you go. Parts of the dirt path get muddy or sandy, and at times it felt like I was pushing through bushes more than hiking a trail. If you're coming expecting a smooth, family-friendly stroll with benches and clear loops, this isn't that kind of place. There's also no restrooms or marked facilities but more of just a small dirt parking area (street parking) and the trail entrance. I did appreciate the quiet, green canopy and the feeling of actually being in nature. It's one of those spots where you have to adjust expectations: come here for a low-key, adventurous walk under trees and through brush, not for a manicured weekend park outing. If you love exploring rugged little local trails and don't mind getting a bit dirty, you'll appreciate it more than someone looking for a casual park vibe.

This is one of my favorite hikes/trails. It's an easy to medium hike and you get to walk past some…read moregorgeous homes before you hit the actual trail. When you get to the top of the hill you will experience the most amazing view of the San Fernando Valley! Take it all in! Breathe...You're welcome:) *Park on Valley Vista Blvd for free or on Dixie Canyon just north of Valley Vista. *Check Parking signs to be safe *You can bring your dogs here but please, please clean up after them. This is a lovely community! Respect it *Great hike for kids