Tongva Park

The most beautiful urban park I have seen in Los Angeles. It’s not that big and it’s not that small. As I entered the park I noticed brightly colored structures that looked like sculptures. It wasn’t until I could make out that certain parts of the structures resembled things you’d see in a playground that I found out that indeed these structures were part of a playground. So, I think it’s incredibly cool that a playground could ever look like art. There are climbing gyms, rock climbing thingies, slides and more. The park has many paved paths and the vegetation and trees are harmonious with these paths. The park isn’t flat which makes it very interesting. There’s an amphitheater area. There are restrooms. I got a kick out of the fact that the gender silhouettes of the men’s and women’s sides aren’t the usual stick figure ones but rather more realistic silhouettes with interesting poses. I mean, you wonder why they made them so loose and free. They’re pretty random. Kind of weird. lol. There’s actually a park security attendant stationed by the restrooms. That there’s a security person on the grounds will give you an idea that the overall safety in the park can be dubious. There are also a few of these security personnel throughout the park. It’s a sad reminder that our society has gotten to the point where manifestations of socioeconomic injustices are present in a place designed for children and recreation. I didn’t see any children of course but it was a drizzly day. The park is named after the indigenous people that inhabited our immediate region. On one hand it’s good they are recognized, but you have to wonder what they feel about it and if they were consulted. This park definitely is a place to reflect on past, present and ongoing reminders that things of beauty cannot cover up the dark side of humanity. However, parks are places where nature is allowed to resist the concrete world around it and its defiance pays tribute to the cultures that preceded us which were better caretakers of the world around us. There are meters around the park.

As a local Los Angeles wedding photographer, I highly recommend Tongva Park for wedding couple portraits or any photo session. The park offers so many beautiful spots, and with an experienced photographer, you can really take advantage of the variety of settings it provides. There are stunning terraces, areas with beautiful flowers, and exotic plants that make for unique and vibrant backdrops. The design of the park itself gives you a lot of options for different looks, whether you want something lush and green or more modern with clean lines. The only downside to shooting at Tongva Park (That is the reason bc I am leaving 3 stars) is that, like many public spaces in the area, there are sometimes homeless people around. While it’s not always a problem, it’s something to be aware of during your session. That being said, the park is still a beautiful and inspiring place for photos, and overall, it’s a great spot to capture some beautifull moments.

We went to town of Park to walk the dog. There were several areas that caught my eye. The artistic way in which the pathways were created expands the views of the small independent little areas that offer peace and meditation separate from the busy Santa Monica crowd just across the street. The restrooms were staffed with someone they were clean and better than I expected. Returning to the park after a walk on the pier the sun began to set and I noticed scores of homeless people coming to the park to sleep. When I went through the park there weren't any homeless people about.

A pleasant little park to walk through. Water features, play area, benches, and toilets all found within the park.

It's a nice and beautiful park, the playground is good for kids, though the sprinklers didn't work. I don't know if they are broken or it was just too cold that day. There used to be streams going along the pathways, they didn't work as well. There were a lot of homeless people in the park.

Nice park near downtown Santa Monica. Kids playing area, sitting for adults. Beautiful trees, plants and flowers. Santa Monica beach across the street.

This is a great park located on Ocean Avenue really close to the Santa Monica Pier. My wife and I walked near this park other times, but this was my first time walking into it. It is great for families because they have slides and splash areas, and there are some great architectural features. I found it very tranquil, and I especially liked the platforms with views of the beach and the pier. It is worth spending time there.

Splash pad was great for two year olds; they were soaked. There are also tables and benches adjacent to the splash pad. The slides are next to the splash pad too.