* butterfly-themed park with great beginner skate park *…read more Gibson Mariposa Park in El Monte, CA ("End of the Santa Fe Trail"), was the result of grassroots efforts by the locals. Instead of a weed-filled, dusty and unsightly lot, the community wanted a safe, fun space to take their families. So after a decade-long wait, the 4.3 acre park finally opened in 2012. AMENITIES + 2 quarter-sized outdoor basketball courts + beautiful murals & dedication plaques throughout + butterfly garden ( with educational kiosks & decor throughout - learn how to say butterfly in MANY languages!) + grass playing area + meeting room + outdoor picnic areas with shade available for rent + restrooms + skate park (partly in the shape of a butterfly!) + small amphitheater + splash pad (certain hours/seasons apply) + swings + various sized play structures + walking path CONS - so many weeds - graffiti - dirty women's restroom - homeless hangout (living in their cars) Even with these easily-manageable cons, it was still a pleasant park to visit. My 7 and 9-year-olds loved the skate park area when we were there on 7/8/22. The older kids were all nice. DEDICATION It warmed my heart to read the plaque next to a beautiful tree that read: "The City of El Monte dedicates this tree in loving memory of Gibson Mairposa Parks' 'Luchadora, Maria Rosario Valdez'. May her fighting spirit forever live on in our hearts. March 10, 2012." SOURCES https://www.dailynews.com/2011/02/22/el-monte-readies-for-ground-breaking-on-gibson-mariposa-park/ https://www.ci.el-monte.ca.us/165/Parks-Facilities https://amigosdelosrios.org/gibson-mariposa-park/

I been coming to the SGV a lot and never new about this cool skatepark .. I love it .... Came early…read moreon super bowl Sunday for skate session. There's even a basketball court to ball up picnic areas , grassy areas , restrooms , tables , benches, playground for kids , shade areas to rest , & parking ETC... awesome place !

If the park up the street is too busy, as it usually is, come to this one because it will be dead…read more My 3 y/o was crying at the other park after numerous kids kept taking his turn on the swings, so we came down the block to this spot and it was empty lol. The seesaw horses that this spot has are unique. We've been to so many parks, so it's rare to see something new, and this spot was the first time I'd seen those. The skate park was completely empty, so this would be a kid-friendly spot to take your kid's board, skates, or scooters to for some safe learning without distractions. The bathrooms at this park were really gross, just a single room/stall for men and women, but at least they had something lol.

The layout isn't very well designed. The run way of the stairs doesn't flow right and have to go at…read moreat a weird angle. It almost feel like this whole park is pretty much unskateable. The park is pretty much dead and lack of skating spirit. There are much better spots like Rosemead which is 10-15 minutes closer. If not definitely go to El Sereno

Nice skatepark and place to enjoy a child friendly play area or picnic. Good size park, nice, clean.read more

We love this skatepark. It's not too crowded. It's awesome because it's attached to a regular…read morepark with full playgrounds for my kids that don't skate as well.

I have lived around the area for quite some time and have seen multiple upgrades to the play ground…read morearea over the last several years. I love the refresh of the play ground. It's bright, vibrant and it feels more spacious as well. Great place to go take a nice stroll, play basketball, soccer or even eat at one of the picnic tables.

I have returned to Live Oak Park (LOP) to play some amazing pickleball with a few of my work…read morecolleagues. Luckily, it was on a weekday between 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Again, there are 8 permanent pickleball courts. We used two of them. We didn't have to wait nor did we have to give up our courts during our visit. We got almost 2 full hours of fun play until it got dark. So cool! Courts were really nice. However, they may need to be swept and rinsed down. There are 3 entrances onto the courts. Benches are available on one side. The waitlist rotation paddle system is closer to the benches. Restrooms are nearby the courts, but if they are closed, you'll have to walk over to the other restrooms near the children's playground or basketball courts area. Btw, the pickleball courts do not have any lights for night play. Once it gets dark, you'll have to call it a night! However, the tennis courts do have lights for evening play. If allowed (not sure), you may bring your portable pickleball net and lines for use. Just a thought. Weekends will probably be very crowded. So come early to snatch a court for however long possible until waitlist rotation comes into the picture. I'll definitely be back to LOP for more fun pickleball play. Thanks LOP! Sorry, still no photos at this time.

This is the closest skatepark to me and I'll take it…read more But beware, if it's really hot these ramps will definitely intensify that heat for you. You feel it radiate on your face and body. It has a lot of open flat lay out area to skate around if you aren't about the bowl/pool life, but still want to catch some little hills. It's a cool spot to practice on some tricks and skills. For all you roller skaters, I was told the half pipe was super short so she couldn't really do what she wanted given the length. Oh, also there is only one portapotty here for bathroom use. So beware girls and anyone who likes a clean bathroom. Unless there are some real bathrooms at another park within this park. (Etc. Golf park, playground, etc.) Either way, good Practice and workout park

Dope. Great mini ramp when not busy but can be sketchy with the minimal maintenance done. Very cool…read morediy scene here and the ground is smooth. Porta potty usually stocked up on toilet paper for all your dooroo necessities

My kids love to skateboard and scoot at this skate park. They are 3 & 6. I try to go when it's…read moreempty as to avoid being in the way of the more seasoned patrons.

My favorite park in the SGV so far - the locals are chill and welcoming, the bowl is great, and the…read moreflow section is beautiful. The park is far more beginner-friendly than you may think at first glance, with several gentle banks and easy roll-ins to get you into the flow section, but it also rewards you with more and more possibilities the more you progress in skill. It's very easy to maintain speed for laps throughout the park once you get a feel for it, and the transition is pretty moderate/standard throughout the park. Nothing truly tricky to deal with if you're just trying to cruise around, but endless possibilities for someone truly skilled, from what I see happen here. The concrete in the shallow of the bowl is starting to develop a bit of pitting in two spots, so take note of that if you're riding smaller/harder wheels.

My grandson from Hawaii is a serious skater. When they came to visit for a short time in October,…read morehe insisted that his board was his personal item on the plane! This 7 year old is an intermediate level skater. His home park is the Lahaina, Hawaii skatepark. When not at the park he skates on their quiet street using his ramp. After hitting four patks he decided Monrovia was the best. He liked the various terrain features at Monrovia Rec Park. He did say he wanted a bit more variety to drop in. Slight negatives include very little seating and lack of shade in mid-afternoon. There was also a but of a hunt to find the restrooms, located behind the third base area of the baseball field.

Skatepark has good vert ramps, rails, mini stairs steps and a curvy pool bowl. It is well kept,…read morewell lit and free from any graffiti. This is located within Recreation Park in Monrovia. Plenty of skateboarders and roller blades (mostly young people) use this skatepark to show their mad skill. They're respectful and wears proper gear which is a park rule. Some folks are very talented. Parking lot is on front of the skatepark. Overall, this is a good and well maintained skatepark.

Visitation Rights: I've been to this park many times. It has been my home court when I play…read morepickleball after work. Location/Parking: Located on McPherrin Ave. between Harding and W. Newmark. Parking can be found along McPherrin or other surrounding streets if you can't find parking. Entertainment: The city usually hosts a decent amount of festivities for the community at this park. Current Events: From May 7 - 10, they're celebrating cinco de mayo (5/7/2026 :5pm to 10pm and Monterey Parks birthday (5/7/2026 to 5/10/2026). Barnes Park Offerings: 1) Pickleball Courts (6) /Tennis (1): 2 month's ago they repaved and installed permanent pickleball nets. There's only one tennis court now... haha Pickleball is taking over! Pickleball courts are closed starting 5/4/2026 to 5/12/2026. Will reopen on 5/13/2026. 2) Baseball/Softball Field 3) Community Center 4) Gymnasium: Indoor basketball and pickleball courts (7pm - 10pm) 5) Restrooms: They're available. Not really clean though. 6) Teqball table: Don't see people use this table to play. I guess I'll watch this on youtube for now. Hopefully, one day.... I'll be able to see this sport in real life. Barnes For Thought: Overall, it's a nice park. Pretty cool that they had enough funding to install permanent pickleball courts. Perhaps the next thing they can fix up is the restrooms.

A nice city park nestled in a cozy Monterey Park neighborhood. Although I don't usually make it a…read morepoint to visit regularly, I do visit at least annually when I volunteer at the Cherry Blossom Festival. It has always been a well-maintained park with plenty of offerings, although the pool is currently closed. Plenty of parking in their lot (on the south side) or surrounding streets although parking can get tough when there are major events.