Beautiful and scenic park perfect for picnics! Perfect for all ages and pets…read more I celebrated my friend's birthday at this park and I had a good experience here! Parking was easy since there is a parking lot. However, it can get filled quickly and luckily I was able to snag a spot. Not sure what the other parking options are when the lot runs out. The park itself is super nice! It's hilly and vibrantly green. My favorite part is you have a great view of the city up top from the hill. The grass is also comfy to sit on. They have a playground, several picnic tables, and a bathroom too. There were several other groups celebrating occasions there, but it was not too crowded. A perfect option for nice weather. I would definitely recommend this park as a great picnic option and would visit again.

Our daily family hunt for parks has finally led us to a nice park! Such a beautiful view, nice…read moreatmosphere, safe and clean park. Our kids had such a nice time on their bikes. My toddler played so comfortably on the toddler side of the park. The bigger kids side had a really cool high tower to climb and come down on the slide. Had so much fun playing with my kiddos here.

The place is beautiful and green. This park has a positive vibe everyone should experience here…read more Softball, baseball, kids slide . I highly recommend this park kindness forward one person at a time

Seriously?? Closed on a holiday when people NEED a park to go to. What the heck! No bathrooms. No…read morezip line (which what my grandsons were aching to do.)

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.

A nice little park. We alternate between Devonwood and Devonshire Arleta Park. We have never had…read moreany problems at this park. Family friendly. The only downside is that there's not a restroom. Otherwise, we love it!

What a beautiful park. This great addition to this community of Mission Hills and Arleta is a gem…read more It has a small walking trail. Plenty of seating, picnic tables, nice landscaping and a covered playground that is very intriguing and will help to bring your child's imaginations to life. Great job LA City department of Recreation and Parks. Please do, continue to build more parks or update existing parks. Use this park as an example where children can enjoy a safe environment to play for future generations to come.

This is an excellent third space for walking, running, and biking (with caution)…read more Flat terrain, no shaded areas, but most of all the sense of community from the regulars who trek Hansen Dam. I've been visiting for a year on a weekly basis. One thing to be mindful for are the horse scat droppings that some horse riders apparently are careless to pick after. I've walked during the morning, midday, afternoon, and evening time. I've felt safe during all times of day and even bring my family on weekends.

My friend and I were headed to the Watermelon festival and we took the long way around which gave…read moreus an amazing tour of just how huge this place is. There are so many fields of grass that I believe are used for sports and then a lake that's for fishing it looks really clean and well maintained. The grass that I saw was soft and green with wildflowers, I did not see any foxtails so that's a plus! This would be a great location to bring my dog to walk and play and there's tons of trees providing shade! Looking across the way and seeing the actual Damn is pretty cool, it looks like a very grand structure!

I haven't been to this lovely, peaceful, tranquil Woodley Park in years. Today after I left the…read morebakery, I had to meet up with a potential client of mine to discuss her wedding arrangements. This is a very big park that actually has free, big parking lot and also street parking is available with couple of restrooms. We found a shaded area that also had a picnic tables. They have children's playgrounds, lots of beautiful, healthy looking trees and a full grass. Nice and green. They also have wildlife and the geese and ducks were swimming in the pond. Woodley park is adjacent to Lake Balboa park, but yet divided. Has pathways, trails, people walking their dogs, kids, has a place to exercise, and also there were venders selling some snacks. The weather was perfect around noon. Wasn't too hot nor it was cold. The Japanese Garden is really something to look into. It is breathtaking and beautiful. They have a golf course, and there was a birthday party going on along with a festival on the other side. I still wonder why people don't write reviews on parks? The park itself was clean and very well maintained. Didn't see no trash anywhere except where they belong. Inside the trash cans that were around the park.

Best Park in the valley. Many activities and so whimsical when everything is in bloom…read more Unfortunately, it still needs to be revived from the fire and the homeless the house there are becoming unsafe to be around.

Devonwood is a local small park that I am familiar with for many years as a SFV resident…read more Took my dog to get some fresh air this morning and saw a few other people out there walking, working out etc. We were able to walk a few rounds around up until one of the other patrons got my attention to let me know that there was a coyote on the premises. Unfortunately, there was a coyote on site which prompted me to leave right away as I was not about to be this coyote's next target with my baby. Don't get me wrong, my female dog 20lb will start a fight; so it's best to remove her from this situation asap. She has a deep bark which can be intimating but it's only coming from a small 20lb doggie. She's my bestie and will guard the issh out of me. The park is small and has swings and a playground for kids, only street parking available. It was such a nice day but shortened due to the potential threat.

Nice lil park. Smells a bit funny. But there is a frutero and a taco truck park there. Do not…read moreforget to bring cash to get some naranjas (oranges) in bulk.

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!

My kid was playing in a soccer tournament nearby, and we found this place for sitting and eating…read more Good neighborhood park. There's easy access along the residential streets. There's some smaller play structures around and a good amount of grassy area as well. Benches and tables are available for picnicking. Only downside was there aren't any bathrooms.

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"

*Kids tennis and swim review* My daughter has been taking tennis lessons at Ritchie Valens Park for…read moreover a year, and she absolutely loves Coach Tim. She truly believes he is the best coach. His teaching and training style is both fun and effective. He uses thoughtful exercises and drills that are perfectly suited for helping kids learn tennis while staying engaged and excited to be there. As a parent, I really appreciate how professional he is and, most importantly, the way he speaks to the kids. Coach Tim has a special way of motivating them, encouraging them, and building their self-esteem through his words. We are very sad to hear that Coach Tim will be moving away and will no longer be teaching here. He has made such a positive impact on my daughter, and he will truly be missed by our family. We are so grateful for the time our daughter was able to learn from him and wish him all the best. Swim Classes Review: The swim classes here are also wonderful. The lifeguards/ teachers are friendly, patient, and great with kids. I really like that the program has clear levels and that kids are tested. I had a hard time teaching my daughter to swim at home, but once she started classes, she learned to float in just one class and was swimming by the second level. I highly recommend the swim classes, they are very affordable, and I love that they're offered daily (seasonal only).

***Tennis Class Review Only***…read more I was recommended to sign up for the tennis adult class at Ritchie Valens Park by one or Tim's current students, and I'm glad I joined. I started last summer and it's been a great experience. Coach Tim does a great job balancing rally practices with skill development for all levels. He takes his time to go over proper form and technique, which has helped me improve. The sessions are both fun and instructional. I highly recommend taking the class!