A playground that has actual shade for parents and kids alike - woohoo! It astounds me how nearly…read more100% of playgrounds seem NOT to have been designed by actual parents, with equipment in the beating sun with no shade, full of holes for kids to fall off/out of lol. This playground has shades up and a good amount of trees, so there's actual shade in the play area and spots where parents can sit. It's tucked away in a quiet neighborhood with plenty of parking, too. My 3 y/o is a bit overly cautious at the playground, but he was able to play on both structures without issue. I didn't see bathrooms nearby? They could have been attached to, or inside, the community center that's right next to the playground, but not sure because we could never find them.

This is a nice park, tucked away in the neighborhood. The playground has trees around that provide…read morenice shade. But also because there is shade, be sure to bring a jacket so you can be comfortable while watching your kid(s). There is a large soccer field and a rec center. Small parking lot in the front but plenty of neighborhood parking.

Was looking for a park to get some steps in after my class and came across this one and I enjoyed…read moreit. It is a dog park so that's a plus.

What a beautiful spacious park! Parking is plentiful right in front, and then there's a bathroom…read moreright next to the parking lot. There's several large grass areas and a small play area for the kids. I thought about bringing my dog but since we were going up into the trails I wanted to check it out first and I'm glad I didn't bring my dog. There are so many off leash dogs who are very well behaved and while I was impressed, some still just walk right up to other dogs that are leashed. My dog is still learning and can be reactive so I prefer that no dogs will come up to her without proper introduction. She is improving and I think as I continue practicing with her that this will become easier and I'll be able to bring her. Anyway it's really so nice to see people with their very well behaved dogs running calmly around. Everything was very clean and for the most part I think most people are mindful at picking up after their dog, however not everyone is and you'll see little poops here and there.

I came here for the first time on Thanksgiving to run a half marathon in the morning. I drove up to…read morethe Top of Reseda where the road ends in a cul-de-sac. There was free parking up to the yellow line. It was dark when I arrived, but there was a sign indicating where the pay spots started. I found the trails to be in good and well-maintained condition. There were signs at each fork in the trail. Some of the downhill and uphill sections were pretty steep with loose rocks so be sure to mind your footing!

Moderate level hiking trails with spectacular views. Amazing place to watch the sunset from.read more

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 have to give this place 5 stars, kids love it its safe and clean park to play for the whole…read morefamily. They have bbqs, playground, basketball, sandbox, table and benches all around. Taking in consideration that there is not too many playground around, Encino Park is great choice

I went here for the 2nd annual Encino Fest. I had never been before and this was a good excuse to…read morecheck it out. Parking was an issue. There are metered spots all around the perimeter, but they were all taken. I ended up driving a block away and parking in front of an elementary school at a curb that's for pick up and drop off only during the school week. The park is about medium size. There's a tennis court, basketball court, a playground, tables and benches, and open grassy areas scattered with trees for shade. For the festival there were a few food trucks on the street, but you really didn't need to buy anything as long as you were willing to wait in a long line for a free pretzel, ice cream, and bottle of water. Just make sure to check in at one of the tables first where they'll ask you for your name and email and then give you tickets for the pretzel and ice cream and then you can get in line. One person is allowed to ask for multiple tickets for their family. The festival is kid centric, like the entertainment on stage were kids dancing and the live music was also aimed at kids. One song had lyrics that sounded like "Simon Says". There were also several tents that had a bunch of freebies like stickers and potato bag clips and even a booklet of the U.S. Constitution, which makes sense since a lot of the booths were promoting various local politicians. There's an onsite bathroom by the basketball courts, but beware that it's not the cleanest, but it's a public bathroom, so of course it isn't. If you have kids, this festival was made for you. If you don't, you can still enjoy the freebies, but it's not really something you'd want to stay around long for.

This park is super cute. The play ground is all red, and shaped like a fire truck…read more It is rather small and although the sign says it is for ages 2 - 12, I think it's more suited for ages 2 - 7, since the equipment is rather low to the ground. There are 2 picnic tables and 2 swings. The grass is on a mound riddled with gophers, so it's not a good spot for a picnic blanket setup. There is no parking lot. All street parking.

I love this park! It's perfectly shaded and the fire truck plays tructure is so much fun. I would…read moresay this park is suited for kinds on the younger side, but can definitely be enjoyed by all. My son loves the slides and the steering wheels. Watch out for the hand crank/spinning thing. I've seen many kids get whacked in the face when playing there. At any park I've been to with those they have been a total hazard. They have some benches along the outside of the play area for people to sit. Only two swings! I wish there were more and they ones they do have are directly in the sun. The other half of the park is kind of empty, with just a few picnic benches and a flat concrete area. It would be awesome if they had even more picnic benches or even added more play structures. The park itself is pretty small. It is never super crowded when I go because it's kind of tucked away, but if there are more than a dozen kids it feels a little chaotic. Always clean though! Plenty of street parking is available.

Beautiful location, must visit and enjoy this local park! Calling and relaxing…read more Will be back for sure!

This park is privately owned and has there for limited opening hours. It is fully gated and fenced…read moreso it looks more like a garden. It is absolutely gorgeous and a great spot for photo shoots.

I've recently started coming to Shadow Ranch Park with my baby and it's quickly become one of our…read morego-to spots. The park has consistently been clean and well maintained, which I really appreciate as a parent. I also feel comfortable here. I haven't encountered any issues, and it feels safe and family friendly. I love that there are two separate play areas for different age groups, so both smaller and bigger kids have space to play comfortably. The only small improvements I'd suggest would be giving the grass a slight trim and possibly bringing back the tire swing or replacing it with another feature. Lots of open space and fields. Great for all sorts of parties. Overall, I'm very satisfied and happy to have found such a nice local park for our outings.

First time visiting and I have to say it was a nice park with a playground area for children. They…read morehad slides and swings for different ages. They also had tables scattered around for sitting. Overall it was fairly clean and restrooms are available. I just wish they had more shaded areas and a barbecue area for picnics.

I appreciate a good park, more than most. We didn't have many safe, functional and accessible…read morerecreational centers where I grew up. I have visited and enjoyed so many in Los Angeles and this one is well kept and offers some of the best activities. Multiple playground areas for kids, designed by age groups in mind. There are baseball and football fields, basketball and tennis courts, a pool, walking paths, hiking and individual bathroom facilities. The parking lot has limited space but it's free in the surrounding streets.

My daughter was there for ballet and volleyball. The ballet course in her age was canceled so the…read moreclass was merged with minors. Which was so disappointing and the quality was not remarkable. On the other hand the volleyball classes are good and the games are encouraging and challenging.

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.