What a beautiful park! I don't think I saw a single piece of litter. There were people walking…read moretheir dogs, driving RC monster trucks over the rocks in the stream and people pushing strollers. There was a playground too, but it didn't seem that they were any people there. All in all, it was a very quiet serene place! There's a sidewalk path that goes around the park and then there's also dirt paths within the park that Run alongside the little creek. You can go over some of the little bridges to get from one side of the park to the other easily. The surrounding neighborhood is really nice and has lots of trees. If I lived closer, I would be here every day!

Absolutely a wonderful Park very shaded, serene and peaceful. Unfortunately there are no restrooms…read moreand you must bring your own seating but it was still a wonderful part to enjoy 3 hours out.

Love this place! Recently came here again in 2026. Went on Grotto trail by accident a year or two…read moreago. Omg! It was so intense but so worth is at the top I saw some coyotes on the others side- like a pack but the stayed on their side. Some people bring their hiking sticks and whistles and some just brave the wild :/. While we made it out alive, won't lie. Seeing like 5-6 coyotes at once kinda scared me but they were pretty far off. They have a nice little park (not a kid park with swings) you can walk around for a calmer and easier walk. They have other trails there that I haven't been on. So I'd just say wear good shoes if you're gonna tackle the big trails and maybe there hiking sticks (I need to get one) and anything for safety. It has many signs that there are rattle snakes. I haven't seen one but I believe them lol. I prefer to go early because in my mind, they wouldn't be out and about yet ‍ since it's not too hot.

A great park at the north end of San Fernando Valley. So many areas to spread out and enjoy…read more O'Melvany is listed as the second-largest public park in Los Angeles(behind Griffith Park), but still seems a pretty good secret, for the most part. On any given day you may see dogs playing, or training in social skills, exercise classes, families picnicking and kids running around. BUT ALSO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR WILDLIFE! Coyotes and mountain lions are very common, as are rattle snakes. But also bunnies, squirrels and an array of birds, for those who take the time to stop, listen, and try to identify. There is not a playground at this large park. Instead, the draw is toward it's many, well marked, hiking trails. This use to be John O'Melvany's ranch, until he deeded the land to Los Angeles(1976), with specifics for it to be used as a park. You'll still see orchards of grapefruit as you enter, with signs requesting you not remove the fruit from the area. The fruit has not been properly tended to in decades, so it's not really yummy grapefruit, but on occasion you'll see some people plucking and tasting to quell their curiosity. Mainly, to avoid the spread of fruit flies, the city requests that the yellow spheres be left in place. BUT OH THE AROMA OF THE FLOWERS FROM THESE TREES! And so many happy bees flitting about. Quite nice. This is also a park that allows access for equestrians. A very large dirt area for trailers to park and horses to be staged and prepped before heading off into the hills on the marked Equestrian Trail. If you do take the time to hike one of the many trails, you'll be rewarded with beautiful view of SFV. If you squint, you can almost imagine what it looked like pre-WWII, before the tract homes welcomed the veterans here. Many beautiful, very old, oak trees, eucalyptus and various maple species, along with a LOT of native shrubbery are found throughout the park and the one large bathroom at the center is well maintained. Hours are dawn to dusk, with gates at both the pedestrian entry and parking lot. Plenty of free parking in the lot and along the street. If you're up for an easy, but fairly long excursion, check out Bee Canyon Park. It starts just across the street from O'Melvany and DOES have a play area for kids. Also, it's trail runs all the way to Balboa. Cheers! "CC"

What an amazing oasis in the middle of the SFV! I'm so glad this garden has reopened to the public…read more The grounds are beautiful and serene, and I really appreciate how they've integrated nature with sustainability by using reclaimed water to supply the garden's pond. We visited today and were lucky enough to catch a performance by the Taiko Project. Their performance honestly gave me chills! Love that they also talked about the history of taiko in Japan and US and they even had volunteers at the end of the show to try taiko drumming! There was also Kamishibai storytelling in the tea garden, which the kids really enjoyed. They also have Japanese Garden "I Spy" sheet for the kids to do and Clean Water Patrol activity book. This is def one of those low stress, high vibe activities that I highly recommend. Just a heads-up though, outside food and drinks aren't allowed inside, but water is ok. There are restrooms near the entrance as well as behind the tea garden. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. We had such a relaxing afternoon and are already looking forward to coming back for more events at this little oasis.

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.

Walk in Covid testing location. I went in early before my appointment and Wow!!! There was a line…read morealready. But it went fast though. The staff were adept and organized. I was done in no time. Parking gets full. This park is good for kids. They have a designated play area.

This park has improved in the last 3 years I've lived in the area! This year is the first year I've…read moreseen the pool open, the slide gushing with water (waiting for the eager kids) and the grounds clean and kept for summer time fun! I'm very impressed with the turn around and love bringing my dog here for morning or evening walks! There is often little league practice and other things going on like random basketball games or family parties! It's a nice neighborhood gem and I like seeing all the local families enjoying our park! It may not be as fancy as the others but it's our little north hills oasis!

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.

Such a beautiful park and easy trail! I love that it's shaded and that there's a creek that runs…read morethrough it. Restrooms are clean and there's plenty of parking.

Plenty to discover in this short and sweet trail. Our group tends to start away from the main…read moreentrance of the park. Instead, we would turn right onto Sesnon Blvd from Balboa Blvd, then head straight till the road ends. Oddly enough the two halves of Sesnon are separated by a ravine. From this starting point, there is a moderately steep decline heading down to the main trail. After this portion, the trail is a casual nature walk. The terrain consists of well-established stream crossings, clusters of old trees you can climb, eclectic art pieces made by local residents, makeshift swings made out of rope, and even manhole covers from India! Folks we meet along the way would say their hellos while riding their bikes and walking their dogs in the evenings. Every so often there would also be small frogs and worms squirming around. Once you get to the main entrance and parking lot, there are a few restrooms as well as resting/training areas for horses. As an out and back route, the incline back onto Sesnon gets the calf muscles working.

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!

Great kids playground with a fence around it! It has photos of Jesse Owens, a small track around it…read moreand a giant tennis shoe to climb. It has 2 swings and a cool climbing structures. Parking is on White Oak or the street behind it. We will definitely be back!

This location was a nice place. There were multiple groups of people setting up for birthday…read moreparties and there was still plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the park. It's pretty much a long stretch of land going around the coledesack near the back of Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy . There were so many beautiful trees at this park, perfect for shade and enjoying the breeze. It also had a couple of basketball courts. The playground was gated which I thought was good for if littler kids are playing. It was a nice and peaceful place. There's street parking right along the front of the park from end to end so plenty of places to park easily. This was a nice park, I'd go here again

If you know me, you know I'm always on the look out for a good park that I can bring my dog to to…read morepractice her training and to play ball with her. This park looks nice and clean, well taken care of, and well shaded. I came by around 1130 and I saw a very nice large green area open, I wish I had my dog with me because this is perfect. I usually put her on the 30 or 45 feet lead and let her explore and throw the ball. Also I love that this park is closer to me than lake balboa so I can alternate environments for her. The park is surrounded by houses in a neighborhood and I found parking easily on the street. The kids playground is nice too, very clean and well kept as well!

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!

This park is large and spacious with plenty of free parking. There were kids playing at the…read morebaseball fields, soccer fields, and at the playgrounds. El Cariso Park hosts a regular farmer's market on Sundays. Stopped by for some coffee and pastries at E&V Kaffee! Such a delicious spot for raw honey lattes, chai teas, croissants and so much more. We had a great time perusing through the plants shops, fruit and veggie stands, and other local businesses.

El Cariso Park is one of the most beautiful and well kept parks in the Valley! Been coming here for…read moremost of my life. I cannot get enough of the fresh air, the cleanliness, the multiple recreational areas it has as basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields and of course synthetic soccer field. Perfect park for a bbq (Carne Asada) with the family. Walk your dog or go for a nice stroll with a love one. So luscious and green and big park great use of space here in the valley.