Neighborhood Park

Neighborhood parks are designed to serve the recreational and social needs of residents living in their immediate vicinity. These parks typically offer basic amenities like play structures for children, benches, open grassy areas, and sports courts, providing convenient opportunities for passive recreation, relaxation, and informal community interaction.

Typical Size

1–3

Typical Length of Visit (Hours)

0.5–1.5

Typical Access

Neighborhood parks should be easily accessible by way of the city’s sidewalks and local streets with no physical barriers or busy streets restricting access. Neighborhood parks should have street parking nearby.
A newly designed playground with a theme of trains and travel. The main structure is a large, brown play-set with a slide, climbing walls, and a ticket booth. A large clock face is mounted on a pole nearby, and in the background, there is a separate play structure resembling a railroad bridge. The ground is a mix of green soft surfacing, sand, and orange-colored paths.
Watts Serenity Park’s amenities were driven by community engagement.
City of LA Department of Recreation and Parks, accessed 2025.

Typical Amenities

Universal Elements
Intensive Use Areas
Programmable Gathering Areas
Recreation Areas
Casual Use Areas
Natural Systems
Infrastructure

Typical Architectural Elements

Small Elements
 (<1,000 SF)
Medium Elements
 1,000 - 6,000 SF
Large Elements
 >6,000 SF

Guidelines for Neighborhood Park

Zones
Casual Use Areas
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Zones
Recreation Areas
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Zones
Programmable Gathering Areas
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Zones
Natural Systems
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Context
Park Supportive Uses
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Wayfinding
Gateways (Primary and Secondary)
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Wayfinding
Gateways (Primary and Secondary)
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Infrastructure
Bike Parking
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Infrastructure
Bike Parking
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Wayfinding
Universal Wayfinding Signage
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Infrastructure
Comfort Facilities
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Infrastructure
Accessible Parking and Drop-Off
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Infrastructure
Shared Parking
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Infrastructure
Safe Crossings
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Infrastructure
Safe Crossings
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Seating is abundant and variedAccessible dropoff is located near the main entranceCasual use space connects back into neighborhoodNatural area buffers adjacent residential uses
Wayfinding
Gateways (Primary and Secondary)
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Connectivity
Internal Walking Trail
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Connectivity
Safe Routes / Passages
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Context
Streetscape Enhancements
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Connectivity
Street Grid Connectivity
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Design

System Wide Language
Design Vocabulary
Cohesive Site Layout
Park Core
Indoor-Outdoor Connections
Native Planting Variety
Park User Equity
Cultural & Historic Features
Water Conservation
Fire Risk Reduction

Context

Park Supportive Uses
Building Frontage
County and Regional Park Connectivity
Public Property / Institutional
Streetscape Enhancements

Connectivity

Street Grid Connectivity
Seamless Public Space
Trail Mode Separation
Loop Trail
Internal Walking Trail
Trail Connection
Safe Routes / Passages

Wayfinding

Universal Wayfinding Signage
Path Hierarchy
Gateways (Primary and Secondary)

Infrastructure

Bike Parking
Transit Stop
Shared Parking
On-Site Parking
Safe Crossings
Comfort Facilities
Maintenance Facilities
Accessible Parking and Drop-Off
Regional Water Partnerships

Zones

Universal Elements
Intensive Use Areas
Programmable Gathering Areas
Recreation Areas
Casual Use Areas
Natural Systems

Architectural Elements

Programming
Integration with the Landscape
Design Excellence
Material Strategies
Environmental Sustainability
Accessibility and Equity

Guidelines for Neighborhood Park - Architecture

Architectural Recipe

(1-3) Small Elements

Sample Outcomes

A 3D rendering of two structures: a large, arched, wooden tunnel-like play structure, and a smaller, rectangular pink building next to it.
A 3D rendering of two structures: a large, arched, wooden tunnel-like play structure, and a smaller, rectangular pink building next to it.
(2) Small
A 3D rendering of a rectangular covered pavilion with slatted roof, tables, and figures. A cyclist and an information kiosk are outside.
(2) Small
A 3D rendering of three park elements: a tall, orange chimney, a wavy arched shelter, and a long, green covered bench area with figures.
(3) Small
A 3D rendering of a green, rectangular covered pavilion with slatted roof and tables. Figures stand inside, and a person cycles nearby.
(1) Small
A 3D rendering of two structures: a large, arched, wooden tunnel-like play structure, and a smaller, rectangular pink building next to it.A 3D rendering of a rectangular covered pavilion with slatted roof, tables, and figures. A cyclist and an information kiosk are outside.A 3D rendering of three park elements: a tall, orange chimney, a wavy arched shelter, and a long, green covered bench area with figures.A 3D rendering of a green, rectangular covered pavilion with slatted roof and tables. Figures stand inside, and a person cycles nearby.

All Neighborhood Parks

Rank Prioritization Tier Park Size (Acres) Classification Region Composite Score
28 2 Caballero Creek Confluence Park 1.53 Neighborhood Park North
0.797
35 2 Toberman Recreation Center 2.74 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.780
42 2 Wabash Recreation Center 1.87 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.774
51 2 Prospect Park 2.71 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.758
58 2 Grand Hope Park 2.00 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.750
71 2 Hoover Recreation Center 2.95 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.734
80 2 1st And Broadway Civic Center Park 1.96 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.725
82 2 Parthenia Park 1.42 Neighborhood Park North
0.722
85 2 Van Nuys Multipurpose Center 1.38 Neighborhood Park North
0.716
101 2 Denker Recreation Center 2.81 Neighborhood Park South
0.695
104 2 City Hall Park 1.71 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.692
113 2 State Street Recreation Center 2.62 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.680
116 2 Trinity Recreation Center 2.06 Neighborhood Park South
0.676
126 2 Loren Miller Recreation Center 2.42 Neighborhood Park South
0.662
142 2 Harbor View Memorial Park 2.85 Neighborhood Park South
0.644
158 2 Alpine Recreation Center 1.94 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.621
159 2 Watts Senior Citizen Center 1.30 Neighborhood Park South
0.620
161 2 Central Recreation Center 1.45 Neighborhood Park South
0.616
163 2 Fred Roberts Recreation Center 2.90 Neighborhood Park South
0.615
173 2 Telfair Park 1.29 Neighborhood Park North
0.601
175 3 Anderson Memorial Senior Citizen Center 1.62 Neighborhood Park South
0.596
184 3 Chesterfield Square Park 1.89 Neighborhood Park South
0.590
198 3 Allegheny Park 1.05 Neighborhood Park North
0.577
214 3 Leimert Plaza 1.14 Neighborhood Park South
0.562
215 3 North East Valley Multipurpose Center 2.07 Neighborhood Park North
0.560
222 3 Chevy Chase Park 2.44 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.553
232 3 Andres and Maria Cardenas Recreation Center 0.70 Neighborhood Park North
0.535
242 3 Devonshire Arleta Park 1.82 Neighborhood Park North
0.531
244 3 Tiara Street Park 1.56 Neighborhood Park North
0.527
252 3 De Longpre Park 1.37 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.515
254 3 Las Palmas Senior Citizen Center 1.14 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.514
272 3 Rose Hill Recreation Center 2.26 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.498
274 3 Media Park 1.08 Neighborhood Park West
0.497
289 3 El Sereno Arroyo Playground 2.35 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.471
295 3 Tobias Avenue Park 1.61 Neighborhood Park North
0.466
296 3 Watts Serenity Park 1.12 Neighborhood Park South
0.465
297 3 Lincoln Heights Youth Center 0.74 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.465
306 3 Benny H Potter West Adams Avenues Memorial Park 1.62 Neighborhood Park South
0.453
313 3 Carlin G Smith Recreation Center 2.64 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.445
315 3 Albert Piantanida Intergenerational Center 2.66 Neighborhood Park North
0.441
325 3 Lincoln Heights Recreation Center 2.88 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.431
339 3 Vista Del Mar Park 1.41 Neighborhood Park West
0.414
342 3 Elysian Valley Recreation Center 1.99 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.404
346 4 Jessie Owens Mini-Park 1.64 Neighborhood Park North
0.398
352 4 Fehlhaber-Houk Park 1.16 Neighborhood Park North
0.390
361 4 Alma Park 2.26 Neighborhood Park South
0.381
368 4 Chatsworth Oaks Park 2.90 Neighborhood Park North
0.373
378 4 Robert L Burns Park 1.68 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.360
397 4 Lake Street Park 1.52 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.330
401 4 Westminster Park 2.24 Neighborhood Park West
0.326
402 4 Juntos Family Park 1.64 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.326
407 4 Reynier Park 1.03 Neighborhood Park South
0.323
415 4 Cohasset-Melba Park 2.00 Neighborhood Park North
0.315
419 4 Ramona Hall Community Center 1.43 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.313
426 4 Lookout Point Park 1.39 Neighborhood Park South
0.302
427 4 Mae Boyar Recreation Center 2.23 Neighborhood Park North
0.297
465 4 Tommy Lasorda's Field of Dreams 1.80 Neighborhood Park East/Central
0.236
470 4 Laurel Canyon Mulholland Park 1.71 Neighborhood Park North
0.231
474 4 Harold A Henry Park 1.60 Neighborhood Park West
0.223
480 5 Los Angeles High Memorial Park 2.51 Neighborhood Park West
0.199
481 5 Rena Park 1.28 Neighborhood Park South
0.198
488 5 Taxco Trails Park 2.45 Neighborhood Park North
0.184
492 5 Robertson Recreation Center 1.24 Neighborhood Park West
0.173
502 5 El Paseo De Cahuenga Park 1.29 Neighborhood Park North
0.145
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