We love this park. Bring your pup on a leash and walk the park. Ponds, playground, flowers and wildlife make this park fun and gorgeous. Watch for the ducks, geese, turtles and fish just be sure if you hang out with the birds you have shoes that wash off easily. Bunnies are often seen in the shrubs, darling and so fun to spot. They recently gutted this entire park so everything is new. Bring lunch and use one of the picnic tables or find a tree to sit under. This is a great park with a bathroom near the playground, swing in and check it out. The gorgeous flora alone is worth the visit. read more

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This park is a great spot to relax in a relatively secluded area. There is a fee for parking which you can pay at the machine inside. There is a route that I used to walk around the park. I saw a playground, a pond, a bridge, several trees, and people enjoying themselves. There are areas where people can set up for activity and eating, at least one appeared to be reserved. This park is near the 5 and 605 freeways. It was not too crowded on the Sunday mornings that I visited earlier this year. read more

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I love this park for pictures or just to walk. My daughter loves going to see the ducks and to walk around. The scenery is just so beautiful, it's breath taking. We did my daughter's sweet 16 pictures here and they were just so beautiful. Highly recommend this park for parties, pictures, etc. you will not regret it. read more

Beautiful peaceful park with ducks and fountain. Clean bathrooms right off the bike path.

This is a cool park to have a picnic, bring your kids to play, or just relax in the sun. I typically ride my bike through this park. It's very spacious, and everyone typically sticks to themselves. There is also plenty of room for dogs to run around and play. read more

Wilderness Park - Bridge area - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

I called this place the duckpond. Absolutely love it here. It's one of my favorite places to get my walk or run in. There's a playground for your kids tons of grass to lay out on a few gazebos. I believe they charge on the weekend to park there it's a great place to sit back, relax and take in some beautiful scenery. read more

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BEWARE OF THE PAYMENT STATIONS. I went there the other day and used my credit card to pay for parking. A day later I got charges from different places, thankfully the card company shut it down and reissued the money with a new card. Those pay stations have skimmers read more

This park is normally quite clean and lovely however the monday and Tuesday after Easter the ground is a disaster! I keep contacting parks and rec to see when they're going to clean it and I was basically told there's nothing they can do about all the confetti so they just leave it. How about the park stops allowing these big messes if they can't handle the clean up? And where is the money for parking going if not for proper maintenance of the grounds??l it's extremely upsetting. The other parks in Downey look better than this one and they don't charge for parking so where's the money going ? read more

Parking is $5 per Vehicle if you're not a resident of Downey. Free for Handicapped parking. Small park but it's beautiful and clean with bike paths, duck ponds and water fountains. Restrooms are available. Wished there were more chairs and tables throughout the park so we can enjoy the view and relax. read more

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Beautiful Park! Perfect for a quiet evening stroll Love the fountains and the manicured gardens. read more

TLDR: Parking is not free. The park is really nice. It is an excellent location for rollerblading/skating or biking. I would go again. This park is really nice. It has a lot of grassy areas, smooth walking paths, benches, trees, a large pond, a nearby bike path, and picnic areas. I went on a busy weekend though, so the parking lot was actually full. It does have a $5 parking fee, which is something I do not see at many parks. I ended up parking on the street of a residency area and walking back up to the park. Around the back of the park, there is an opening to a bike path that runs alongside the dry LA River. Admittedly, I should have taken the rollerblades off before attempting to go up or down the path's entrance because it is on a bit of an incline. On the way down, I sped down so quickly that I scratched my glasses! That was my own fault though. The path is actually pretty bumpy to skate on since it is completely made of asphalt. As far as I could tell, every single crack on that path had been patched up really smoothly as well. At some point, there will be a path that branches off into the LA River. The concrete down there was much smoother to skate on. In fact, we bumped into a few skateboarders also enjoying the area. The only thing is that it has a lot of trash in that area with a few large cracks in the ground, since it's not really meant for skating. There's plenty of space to find a smooth area though. read more

Wilderness Park - Bike path along the dry LA River - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

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A beautiful park in Downey that is along the San Gabriel Bike trails. Especially beautiful during golden hours. There's a surprising amount of wildlife in their small ponds--we spotted different types of ducks and herons. There's also a small play ground, walking trails, picnic table, and various types of greenery. Parking cost $5 in the lot but there's also street parking. read more

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Tranquil park, right off the 605 fwy, plenty of parking, nice little walking trail with a cute little pond. Who doesn't want to see cute ducks, rabbits and turtles along their Wilderness Park journey? There's a community room and staffed during the day. Restrooms are attached to the main building. This park has a great play area with swings and slides for small children. Get your breathe on, outdoor life! read more

Wilderness Park - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

Lovely Park, playground, walkway, Serene and beautiful. Nice place to take the family and enjoy a picnic or walk/ stroll.

Lovely park! Great place to walk. Dogs would adore all the park critters. Memorial Day all the picnic areas were full but I was able to snag a bench seat & enjoy the beautiful day! Parking can be difficult. Paid parking is a thing on most weekends. read more

Wilderness Park - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

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Lovely little park. Clean, bathrooms are clean as well. Entry fee is $5 for non Downey residents but it is worth it. Nice little walking trails too. read more

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If your a biker, jogger, walker, runner, a day with the kids even if your just fly fishing, this park is just. Gem! I arrived at 8am, sat. Many bicyclists were already getting ready to zoom off. After, you might find a 5 dollar charge if non resident. There are a couple charging stations for evs.. super cool Two large fountains, a couple of locations for great photo ops, many benches and water dispensers. Restrooms were available, a child's playground was clean and modern. Walk ways super clean and extended around the whole park. Peaceful and a mecca for bike riders... see photos. Great for picnics , for family time and enjoy the long and never ending bike trails. read more

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Wilderness Park located close to the freeway next to Downey's mini mansions. I know during Covid they had it closed down for reconstruction and I can tell they did a lot of great stuff. The park is humongous itself and there's still some room for improvement in the back it's a lot to walk around but not only that you can get onto the riverbed and walk even further. I like the animal life and the squishy playground is humongous. On the weekends you have to pay for parking unless you're Downey resident you have to show proof of address. read more

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The hubby and I have grown up in this park. Raised our three boys going to this park their whole childhood. Had our second sons 1st bday here. Our six grandbabies have frequented this park before Covid and renovations. We finally had the time and had five out of six together at one time and thought we would finally get a chance to check it out. NOPE! The grandkids were on winter break so we headed to the park. It was so crowded! There was absolutely no parking in the main parking lot. People were parking in red zones. There was no street parking for half a mile into the adjoining neighborhood because that's where the overflow had to park. The overflow parking to the park was not open! All the kids, public and private, are on winter break, it's noon time during the week and the overflow parking was locked? Horrible customer service to the tax payers and to the residents that had to put up with no parking in front of their houses! It's already crappy that the overflow parking is closed during the week and that they charge to park on the weekends when it is open. But they know the school schedule and anticipate the increase in usage after Christmas, it should have been open during the break. So we took our two car loads of kids and adults to El Dorado Park instead. Yes, we had to pay $6 to get in. But it was well worth it. Parking is in abundance and it's only about 15 minutes south on the fwy. They have multiple playgrounds throughout the park. The nature center with nature walk alone is worth the $6 entrance fee. You can also fish here with appropriate license. I won't bother again with this park. I'll stick to El Dorado! read more

Love this park ! Beautiful grounds, lakes, bridge is great for photos. Playground is large and spacious. Bathrooms are clean. Area is great for parties but you need reservations. Only downside is you have to pay for parking. read more

It is a great park for hanging out with friends but the bathrooms are not so good not to be rude but it is a nasty bathroom it has writing on the toilet seat so can you change the bathrooms read more

fantastic park for me and and the kids!! we had a lovley time, kids loves the scenery! read more

Wilderness Park - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

Unable to safely walk the path. There is dog poop all over. Even thought there are baggies available, people still don't pick up. Just my first walk and I saw two people stealing the baggies. It's unfortunate read more

Lovely place to go skating, running, bicycling, just be careful and make sure you leave before it starts getting dark. Definitely some super shady people coming out around 5 pm. No security around. Bathrooms not open on weekends, which is awful. LOVE THE DUCKS N GEESE! read more

Wilderness Park - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

This is by far our favorite park in Downey! The long awaited renovations were worth the wait! The park looks amazing now. The ponds are beautiful and the renovated walkways and shaded picnics area are fantastic. Also great there's two parking lots so you don't have to crowd the street and kudos for the electric car charging stations! My family loves coming here for picnics and walks especially my little one who loves to watch all the ducks. Pro tip: DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS BREAD! It can be very dangerous for them, there are lots of bilingual signs that state this all around the lake. There's also a Little Free Library here so you can bring a book or two you'd like to donate. And lastly there is a parking fee for non-Downey residents on weekends so be prepared with cash ($5) if you don't have proof you live in Downey. Overall I love love love this park! Once again kudos to the city of Downey for all the renovations. It's an awesome park! read more

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Great place to enjoy a nice walk and spend time with your loved ones specially if you enjoy nature and beautiful views read more

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After about a year of being closed the park is re-opened. Most of the refurbishment is nice. I am disappointed with the walls and fence barriers now around the lake. I am even more disappointed with the seating they installed and the fact they are now behind the fence wall with the fence wall blocking your view of the lake. I would go with my husband and friends and we could relax on the old seats and clearly watch the turtles and ducks without any obstruction. The seats now have no backs. Gives a message you are not welcomed to stay and relax. Other areas now have plants around the lake to prevent you from getting close. read more

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This past Sunday (4/3/16) Wilderness Park resembled a landfill. It was disgraceful. There was one young woman on a golf cart driving around picking up trash. She had on gloves and was using a trash picker. That was comical as she hardly put a dent in her duties. Come on humans. I know it's near a freeway. Homeless people are here frequently. Birds and other animals like to swipe stuff from the trash cans. But this was different. TIPS - During the week, entry is free. Saturday and Sunday, though, they charge non-residents. - Sandy surface for playground - Bird and dog feces are especially near the pond, but also in the grassy areas near it. (Again, come on humans, clean up after your dog!) '16 Challenge #24 read more

When heading down the San Gabriel River Trail on my bike, I am always happy when I see Wilderness Park. Just south of the I-5, it heralds that safe passage has been accomplished; the roughest, cutthroatest, homeless encampment-est, likelihood of having some thug throw a broomstick into your front wheel-est part of the trip is behind you... Southbound, anyway. Moreover, since Wilderness Park charges a couple of bucks for cars to park, it tends not to be filled with riff-raff. Bike friendly, clean restrooms, a paved walking path, a couple of small ponds filled with hungry ducks and, if the folks plying the water with fishing rods are any indication, a few fish, Wilderness Park is an emerald gem and a welcome rest stop when you've got the pedal to the... Well, just pedaling. Picnic tables and open fields are great for the kids, and at the south end of the park, there are some unpacked paths which are probably fun for dirt bikes. Plenty of shade trees complement the open areas for frisbee and throwing the ball around. I have no idea what it costs to park here. The occasional tattooed tough guy walks by, but ... He walks by. Families and kids are the norm here, and is biker folk stopping for a stretch and a restroom break. read more

Have you ever wanted the opportunity to bother cute ducks? Well, you are in luck....... It's tucked away near/behind the entrance to the 605 Freeway. It sits between Downey/Norwalk city lines. Parking is free M-F. I believe they may charge on weekends. Maybe. If you go M-F you should have no issue finding parking, on a weekend it may be more congested. However, street parking is also available. Things you can do: Ride a bike Roller-blade (Who rollerblades? I do. As of a week ago ~.~) (Who even sales rollerblades? Amazon. duh) Walk Jog Harass ducks Take pictures of the ducks Feed the ducks BBQ/ picnic Kids Playground If you want to be a little romantic you can harass the ducks with your +1. The park isn't a beauty out of a botanical garden, but it isn't your typical city park. If you have children; I would recommend having a park day there. Ducks and a playground. Kids love that, no? Take snacks and a blanket. A lot of green grass to sit around on. My friend took their child and I loved seeing him enjoy the simple things. He was a bit scared of me at first, but soon warmed up. All I had to do was chase ducks with him. Which was honestly fun for me. Many little ones throwing bread, laughing and full of joy. ***For the record, if any of you allow me to babysit your children and you send them with a loaf of bread (to feed the ducks) I will eat it.*** Overall, I have been to this park a few times. Alone and/or with company. It has always been a pleasant experience. P.S..Restrooms have always been clean and stocked with tp. XO B read more

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Been coming here since I was a kid. Has a pond to feed the ducks and other wild local water birds, grills and tables for BBQing, playground for the kids, and plenty of grass for a nice walk. It always brings me back to simpler, happier times. This park could use a bit more cleanliness though. While the city could help alleviate the problem, it should ultimately be the community's responsibility to keep it clean by not littering and cleaning up after one's pets. Pros: + Ponds with water birds (ducks, seagulls, etc) + BBQ Grills and Picnic tables + Playground for kids + Good park for a walk Cons: - Not very clean read more

Wilderness park is probably my 2nd favorite park besides Oak Park in my hometown of Stockton, California. I came across this park by looking for a place to relax and release. While I was on one of my trips to Southern California earlier this year. I had a beautiful time here and made wonderful memories here. I love the layout of this park. A few ponds with ducks and the grass is very green and kept up. It's a very beautiful park, it really is. I made a separate journey here not long ago, just to come here and relax. I look and search for things that are beautiful. I make beautiful memories there. Then I comeback and relive the moment. I'll be back here soon. Life is Beautiful..Vincent D. .*VD* read more

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Came to this park for a work meeting. It was the first time we have done this with our group and this was my first time at this park. It was very distracting, regarding the meeting, because there were so many birds, ducks and people driving in, that I just kept staring at them and watching them. The park is quite lovely. It has a nice little man-made pond, a little secluded and lots of trees and green grass. It has some BBQ grills. An area to picnic, but we brought our own stuff and copped a squat. I would love to bring the boy back here with some healty duck food (no bread, that's bad for them.) They even have a playground Pretty and quaint. Stop by and have a peaceful lunch. You'll go back to work refreshed. read more

This park is near my house. My kids can't get enough of bringing bread to feed the ducks and goose and seagull and other type of birds. It can get wild depending on the day you go. My family and I love to ride our bike to the park and go around the entire park on the trail. It can be for running, biking, and just a stroll in the park. It's pretty big. There is a big playground for kids to play in. Sand is there. Public bathroom is near but it's located pretty far from it. Scary. Don't let your kids go alone. I just wouldn't know what can happen. Hmm... the park is kept pretty clean. Weekdays are free. Weekends are $5. Park outside the street. read more

Wilderness Park - Ducks - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

First and foremost on weekends find parking in the residential to avoid the nonsense pay to park issue. Secondly, this place is a nice lush green park with lots of ducks although their pond water is pretty disgusting I try not to look at it much because my main purpose here is to jog, take my boy to the jungle gym or just take a nice breezy stroll around the pathway. If you are coming to fish, I can't say much about it since I don't engage in it but I probably wouldn't want to eat any fish from this pond. If you come for birthdays parties I haven't tried that either but I know weekends are practically crowded with families and kids. Overall, if you need a nice outdoor workout and some cardio you can do it here. No hills but tiny inclined areas and a nice path to run on. Bring your kids to the jungle play area it's pretty nice. Have a picnic, have a date. Tip: there are sketchy looking individuals sometimes but for the most part I have never ever been bothered and other people taking their morning exercise are friendly. Say hello! read more

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This park is really cute! It has a duck pond with a bridge. Some turtles live in the ponds also. I've seen a few rabbits and squirrels here too. Lots of people fish here but I wish they didn't. It's really crowded on the wkends with people taking Quinceañera pictures, parties and bbqs. They charge $2 parking but there's usually street parking a block away. Bike ridding is ok as long as no one sees you ridding on the grass :) It's got a perfect pathway entrance to the San Gabriel River bike path too. read more

Wilderness Park - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

I've known about this park for a long time I just hadn't been their for a while I took my daughter to ride her bike, look at the cute little ducks , and the playground next thing you know my daughter was going to put this in her mouth, like seriously like these damn people do not give a flying f**k about kids know a days, I wanted to complain personally but I didn't know we're to go too. Just be careful with your kids everyone. read more

Wilderness Park - Parks Near Me - Downey, California

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I stopped by this park after a delicious trip to portos. The park was not too far, about 6 minutes. It's right next to a freeway entrance to the 605 south so be careful not to go onto the freeway, just make a right instead. The park was filled with lots of people having BBQ's and spending some quality time with the family. There are several small lakes with lots of ducks, yay! Lots of green grass and shade for having a picnic or resting. Parking for non-residents is $5 but you can find street parking if you just keep going. This is a great local park to take a stroll or have a picnic or bbq. read more

The spring is here now. We reopen our Chan Meditation group on Tuesdays. Come and meditate together on Tuesday (6pm) at wilderness park. read more

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Good amount of parking and lots of different areas including picnic/bench areas to a playground and even a little lake. The park is near the 605 and 5 interchange but the freeway noise wasn't noticeable. We were able to stop off to let my dog have a little walk before a getting back on the highway. We even found some dog bag dispensers near the parking lot. read more