These Parks in Los Angeles and Free to Visit

One of the newer outdoor spaces in Los Angeles, Ascot Hills Park officially opened in 2011 but its history goes way back to the 1930s. The public open space spans nearly a hundred acres and includes a serene canyon, large hills, and miles and miles of multi-use trails. From certain points of the park, you’ll be able to see LAX, downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign, and the San Gabriel Mountains on a clear weather day. With a difficulty rating of PG, it’s a great place for hiking with first time or new hikers as well as younger hikers.

Ascot Hills Park, Address: 4371 Multnomah St, Los Angeles CA 90032, Phone: 213-485-4833

A green oasis in the middle of a thriving industrial neighborhood, Augustus F. Hawkins Nature Park was actually once a cement pipe storage yard. You’ll never know it from how it looks now, as the 8½ acre open space is a serene urban landscape that visitors love. As you walk along the park’s path, you’ll go through rolling hills, riparian areas, and gorgeous native plant communities. During your visit, be sure to stop by the Evan Frankel Discovery Center which is full of nature displays and interactive exhibits. You can also schedule your visit around one of the park’s many interpretive learning programs which they host throughout the year.

Augustus F. Hawkins Nature Park, Address: 5790 Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011, Phone: 323-581-4753

The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is a stunning urban park located just a short distance away from downtown Los Angeles. Start your visit with a stop at their state-of-the-art visitor center where you can see exhibits on the history of the land and how it has now become a symbol of conservation and hope. There’s the main hiking trail as well as an easier loop trail which takes you through seasonal displays of native wildflowers. Other aspects include picnicking sites, bird and wildlife viewing points, and much more. At the top of the 500-foot peak, you’ll be able to see stunning views of LA including the Los Angeles Basin, the Pacific Ocean, and towering mountains in the distance.

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Address: 6300 Hetzler Rd, Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: 310-558-5547

Romantic Parks in Los Angeles

Considered to be the first and oldest park ever established in Los Angeles, Elysian Park is also the second largest outdoor recreational space spanning at 575 acres. Though it was a popular public place for years prior, it wasn’t officially established until 1886 by the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles. There are several historically significant aspects and sites scattered throughout the park; for example, it has a rich Native American history at Yang-Na Village. Walk through the paths and you’ll come across The Chavez Ravine Arboretum, The Avenue of the Palms, Barlow Hospital, the Los Angeles Police Academy, and several other historical parklands.

Elysian Park, Address: 929 Academy Road, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Phone: 213-847-0926

Located to the south of the University of Southern California’s campus, Exposition Park is an open public space that is extremely popular with residents and visitors. Formerly home to the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the park now houses several unique aspects that attracts people of all ages. Within the park you’ll find the John C. Argue Swim Stadium, the Banc of California Stadium, the Lucan Museum of Narrative Art, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California African American Museum, and the California Science Center complete with an IMAX theatre. One of its most famous features is the seven-acre Exposition Park Rose Garden which is often called one of the city’s best kept secrets.

Exposition Park, Address: 700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037, Phone: 213-744-7458

One of the oldest parks in Los Angeles County, Franklin D. Roosevelt Park was initiated during the Great Depression as part of President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. There are several amenities that visitors can use during their visit such as tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, fitness zones, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and skate parks. Little ones love spending time in the children’s play areas while friends and family are often found with a basket lunch in the designated picnic grounds. There’s even a specified senior center, senior meal programs, and tons of activities scheduled for everyone in the family.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Park, Address: 7600 Graham Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001, Phone: 323-586-7228