Los Angeles Parks and Playgrounds

Use this guide to find parks and playgrounds in Los Angeles where parents and kids can play and spend time outside together. Browse practical details to help you choose a place for your next outing.

Parks and playgrounds

  1. Urban wildland + family destinationsGriffith ParkGriffith Park · Trails + play + major destinations
  2. Lake loop + play + picnicLake Balboa / Anthony C. Beilenson ParkLake Balboa · 1.3-mile lake path + adaptive field
  3. Play + fields + joggingPan Pacific ParkFairfax · Playground + broad recreation fields
  4. Nature play + downtown viewsVista Hermosa Natural ParkWestlake · Nature playground + native landscape
  5. Downtown splash + playgroundGloria Molina Grand ParkCivic Center · Terraced splash pad + playground
  6. Open lawns + skyline pathsLos Angeles State Historic ParkChinatown · Accessible paths + broad event lawn
  7. Rose garden + museum campusExposition ParkExposition Park · Rose Garden + picnic + museums
  8. Hillside paths + picnicElysian ParkElysian Park · Hiking + bike + jogging paths
  9. Ocean views + picnicPoint Fermin ParkSan Pedro · Clifftop views + shaded picnic space
  10. Lake habitat + family recreationKen Malloy Harbor Regional ParkHarbor City · Bird habitat + fishing piers
  11. Play + all-ages sportsAlgin Sutton Recreation CenterSouth Los Angeles · Playground + wide sports mix
  12. Play + skate + court sportsPeck ParkSan Pedro · Playground + skate park + pickleball
  13. Lake day + paddling + beachSanta Fe Dam Recreation AreaIrwindale · about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles · Swim beach and paddle rentals

Wildlife to look for nearby · July

These are examples of wildlife parents and kids may notice in parks and natural areas in and around Los Angeles.

  1. Warm-season pollinatorsBees and butterflies moving between blooms · Flowering gardens and public native-plant patches
  2. Young birds learning the neighborhoodShort flights and adults carrying food · Trees and shrubs viewed from ordinary public paths
  3. Warm-day snakes and lizardsA reptile warming on rock or open ground · Sunny chaparral, grassland, and trail edges
See the seasonal nature calendar

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Find more family-friendly ideas and local guides for your city.

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