Anthony C. Beilenson Park & Lake Balboa

This park is one of the few gems in the San Fernando Valley. This park is so big with free and ample parking with tons of things to do. There is a large lake where you can rent a small pedal boat and pedal around. NO swimming though but ew if you have that desire. The lake is so dark it looks like black liquid. Why you want to swim in that I have no clue. ANYWAY. Tons of activities to do like running, walking, places to separately bike and rollerblade. It is a large park and pretty cool to just chill and relax at. I suggest coming here if you’re trying to avoid traffic and have no clue what else to do in the valley.

This park has been getting more dirty as years have gone by. I think the lack of management and control easily shows in how people treat their park. From easy days to weekends and events, people treat this place like a junkyard. It’s such a beautiful park and I wish there were some presentable staff that at least made people not liter or something to help preserve the lake. It’s so sad that the type of people who do attend this park are so nonchalant about it all…

Lake Balboa is pretty and even prettier when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It’s a nice oasis-​type feeling seeing a lake smack dab in the middle of the San Fernando Valley. I like coming early morning Sat or Sun and walking/​jogging the exterior paths and then finishing up at the lake, usually getting my cool down on while sitting on a bench overlooking the lake. It’s very tranquil and serene before the park gets crowded and noisy later on in the day.
Parking in the actual park is easy if you come early enough otherwise free, but limited street parking is also a available along Balboa Bl. One thing I dislike about this park is the amount of small gnats hovering in the middle of the walkway smh. I can’t tell you how many time I’ve waved my hands in front my face while walking the perimeter of the lake.
I’m actually doing this review at the park, while sitting on the bench overlooking Lake Balboa. Maybe I should just write my Unilocal reviews, that I’ve been meaning to write, while cooling down here :)

A nice park. Great for dogs, walking, running, picnics, fishing. Cherry blossoms when in season. Nice scenery. Weekend can get a bit crazy, best to go during weekdays. Not the cleanest (probably because it’s free) but overall pretty well maintained. I fish often, only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star is due to lifeguards. They have no respect for the people fishing. They just drive past in their skiff scaring away the fish. No common courtesy, probably because they are young. Other than that, I would recommend if you’re in the area.

It was cool. I live about no more than 2 miles away so I walked over. I had never been. I didn’t feel like going to the gym so I thought I would get some light cardio checking out the park. I power walked it over and when I got there came to a slow stroll because it is a nice park with lots to see.
The nature, the lakes, the various bird species, the people watching, the dog watching. The lakes don’t stink too much. I’ve experienced worse. I planned on jumping rope when I got there but was too chilled and relaxed to so I smoked a doob instead and strolled around the lakes. All the people were nice and it’s a safe environment so don’t hesitate.
At first driving around the area I thought it looked dirty and ghetto, but it really is not. Maybe a little dirty buy that’s it. Get yourself a bike and ride the bike path. That’s my next plan when I go.

Do you love walking? Talking? Running? Biking? Ducks? Water? Water-​biking? BBQ? Picnicing? Watching your children play in the playground? If so, you can do all of these things here!
This is my all-​time favorite park/​lake. I’m fortunate enough to live nearby. There are always birds and dogs. Grab a seat on a bench and people watch. Or swing by on your bike and get some exercise. People are always running and biking around the park.
The playground area is fantastic for children. There are two adjacent playgrounds, one for toddlers, and one for bigger children, so you won’t have tiny babies trampled by older kids.
See you at the park!

I remember scraping my knee among the rocks at the playground when I was kid. It kinda looked like jelly. For years, i’d see that stain. They finally re-​did the playground and I don’t know if those rocks are still there
Euphoric. And in a non-​fedora kind of way. A giant, bogus man-​made lake (because why not?), fed by an almost perfectly bouldered, bogus man-​made waterfall. My brain doesn’t care. You got the sod, you got the fish, you got the ducks, plenty of chairs and tables, a bikepath, ample parking (and even then, there’s plenty of room to get creative).
The park goes on forever in all directions. You could easily spend your whole day here doing whatever. There’s even a section among the outskirts where the trees get thick enough, providing an organic courtesy divider between the lovebirds and the Indonesian family of six. After dark, it can get a little cruisey
Speaking of, as the sun starts to sink into the ground, the crankiest park patrol officer on earth gets in his yellow truck and proceeds to kill the magic. He circles the park, telling everyone it’s time to go with about as much candor as an air-​raid siren. No matter, the park will still be here for me.
You see the huge families start to get up and pack. Children retract their kites. Pervy old men recall their drones. The Ice cream man makes a final round. A mass exodus begins, effectively gridlocking all the out-​traffic. All that’s left to do then is watch the sun set from your car.

I love walking here in the morning and afternoon. The lake calms me. The flowing streams and many animals (ducks, squirrels, Hawks, vultures, Ravens, storks etc) make me feel one with nature. I know people aren’t suppose to feed the ducks, the many signs posted around the park tell you not to, but you just can’t help it. Some people lay in the grass, drop a line in the water to fish,
some have picnics, some take nature pics, some paint, and some barbecue. Whatever you want to do to enjoy the beautiful weather, it’s possible here. It’s a pretty huge park, with many walking trails, benches and tables — and it’s open from sunrise to sunset. My only complaints are the folks who ride bikes on the walking path when there is a bike path that not only goes trough the park but surrounds it — can you leave the little walkway around the lake for the walkers please. And lastly, the swarms of nasty little knats that seem to stay in the pathway mostly in the evening but they can be a disturbance in the morning as well. Thinking of bringing some spray the next time but I don’t want it to have an ecological effect. Maybe I’ll wear a mask, still pondering…

Lot of memories in this park for many. After 7 months and reading Jane’s review this morning I decided to jog here and get a close look at the current status.
Blooming season of cherry trees was (yes was) between February and April, and I’ve memory of incredible quantity of gorgeous pink flowers.
Today no pink flowers. Zero.
After a few loops jogging i counted more than 10 cherry trees cut at their base, hoping they grow again (it takes years) others are just dry dead. No leaves.
Got disappointed, I approached the manager, Bryan, at the boat rental pier of the lake. He has been working as manager for the city of Los Angeles, walked me in his office by the lake and nostalgically showed me a great picture of the lake in 2008 (added here). It was 8 years ago not 100 — Bryan said — then it started: year by year they had to cut cherry dead trees because lack of rain and irrigation is only a limited option using recycled water from the lake. California water emergency. we all know. Bryan is a young big adult working there for may years, passionately. I saw his sorrow in his eyes showing me park pictures on his office wall, I heard his trembled voice telling me about all people calling and asking for the exact blooming days, not having any date to say. Many people calling also from Japan Bryan proudly said!
In short we all have lost a natural beauty.
One more beautiful unbeatable show of the nature is gone, the spring awake for all of us cannot be there anymore. Not because bad maintenance, no one local in LA to blame, but because global warming.
But someone is responsible.
I remember that in 1997 ALL western countries (and not only) of this planet, except USA, signed the Kyoto Protocol. George Bush laughed about it for 8 years, humiliating himself forever in front of any future history reader. As Republicans are still arguing scientific evidences (!), last year Obama went to Alaska to personaly measure the permanent glacier recess, twitting scary pictures from his phone. Congress still didn’t sign. After a persistent work, Obama signed on Earth Day 2016, joining nearly 170 countries, the Paris Agreement, reinforcing their commitment to the historic climate pact.
Still, today, on Amazon (US) you can buy cheap freon to refill A/​C (responsible to destroy ozone, reduce UV protection, increasing skin cancer and global warming) but you cannot buy freon on the EU version of the same Amazon American online shop. Which world is this? Logic and science are facts and should not be debated politically. Gas spread in US sky is floating away also to EU skys! Such a pervert and idiotic thing.
What is happening in this park today was predicted by science 20 years ago! Cherry trees are the most delicate in this park, therefore first to die. Stronger trees will follow decay next years.
Other reviewers pointed out the many closed restrooms. Asked Bryan also about it and he said there is reduced maintenance and supervision during the weekends because lack of funds in city of LA. Something that could be fix with some pressure. Why full time workers during the week when there are less folks around?
I love this park. Still amazing. Perfect location, pavilion and gazebo everywhere. Happy atmosphere, multi ethnic, fun. Boats are only $ 10/​hour adults, $ 5/​hour for kids. Huge fishes. Lot, many birds (too many, again because global warming).
4 Stars!!!
Luigius — Thor of Unilocal Energy

Not a well maintained park:
Only 1 single FUNCTIONAL bathroom for the entire park. For a park that’s located in middle of a very populated city, they can’t be serious.
Also, trash cans are full and trash all around them.
Where do our taxes go?

Been coming here for years. Wonderful lake and park with numerous recreational activities available: bike and boat rentals, picnic areas, golfing nearby, etc. Local and convenient with free parking. However, it’s not what it used to be years ago. Often way overcrowded now, run down, and at least ¾ of cherry trees have died. Hence very few blossoms. I have photos from years past and it’s a sad stark contrast to what I see today. Not sure what to make of it.

Great lake located in the middle of the valley. This park is HUGE! There are so many recreational activities here both for kids and adults; biking, running, fishing, feeding ducks, the list goes on and on! Bathroom can get pretty nasty and stinky, but it’s better than most parks. Also, if you don’t leave when they tell you, there’s a chance of you getting stuck inside the park. They will lock the gates even if you’re inside, good luck trying to get out.
Please, keep this place CLEAN! Pick up your trash!

This park visit was a little 2 hour getaway adventure for me and my partner in between jobs on a Friday early afternoon. The park is spacious which is great for walking, running, open spaced playgrounds etc. Definitely thumbs up to get away from the busy city feels.
One thing that was a downside for me was the amount of bird poop. Yes, it’s a park with a lake and there are adorable birds everywhere which makes for a opportunity for real life bird encounters and mini lesson on feeding, touching and species. But if you’re going to have your kids run around (or adults), be ready to clean off bird poop from shoes and clothes. Make sure to train your accompaniments not to eat things off the floor before letting them roam around freely. No judgment here in case that would slip anyone’s mind.
There are playgrounds and sports facilities, smaller hills and boat rentals. So you definitely won’t stay bored! We rented a paddle boat which turned into a great little romantic picnic out on the water. While out there we found a seagull stuck in the water with a broken wing so we had a little rescue mission and brought her back to the boat rental place. We asked the life guards to help us get her off the boat onto the land/​guidance on what to do with her but they refused to (BOOO). Instead, Matt the worker gently picked her up and put her down onto the grass. Thumbs down for the lifeguards but thumbs up for Matt’s helpful engagement!
During the entire time at the park my partner and I were publicly affectionate among adults, children, birds, you name it. Except for a few looks that are up for each its own interpretation, the environment felt fairly queer-​friendly.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been to a beautiful park like this!
There’s a very nice man-​made waterfall, huge lake, and plenty of benches and tables. What I like about this place is that there’s spacious grass area for lounging about and it’s definitely great for picnics! There’s grills available if you ever wanna do a BBQ there, or you can always bring your own portable grill if you wish.
You can definitely get some good exercise going if you actually take a few laps around the lake because the park is huge! There’s lots of trees for shade, and everything else makes this a great place for families/​friends/​dates for some good memories.
There’s actually 2 entries for parking. The main one can be pretty crowded (but hey, it’s free!) and there’s an off-​site parking in the back that is more for overflow parking. I recommend this one because you get out of the park easier hehe :) Highly recommend!

Beautiful spot, but the most kids I’ve ever seen in my life, just a fair warning. Go listen to the water run and look at the ducks (DO NOT FEED THEM!!). You can also fish here, too (I did not, but I plan on trying some day). Bathrooms are a little scary.

Never been here and have been in Los Angeles my whole life. Truly is a nice park to clear the mind or get away from normal daily life hassles. Birds, fresh smell of water, ducks and beautiful walkway for taking a stroll and clearing your mind. Definitely coming back on the weekdays for an early run!

Love this park! Lots of sidewalk room to do a morning or afternoon run/​jog/​walk!!! Bathrooms are ok. The usual public park. They have a spot here where you can rent paddle boats and have a little fun on the water.
Now, even though this is a huge park, parking can get hectic… seriously hectic! But plan ahead! On major holidays it’s a mad house here! Overall, it’s a well kept park and a small gem hidden in the SFV!

I’ve heard that this is a sizable lake in the valley so finally decided to check it out today. It is a large park but it’s also a little seedy and run down.
They do rent paddle boats for very little and it’s about two miles around the circumference of the lake, but I’d rather go to Echo Park Lake if I stay in the city for this.
There are a lot of ducks around the lake and they are extremely tame and well fed, despite the signs asking not to feed them. Finally, if you’re in the area now (Jan 2016), they are filming some major motion picture and there are trucks everywhere and people pretending to fish on one side of the lake.

This place is a hidden gem in LA. If you like to walk, run, or hike, need a playground, golf, fish, whatever… This is the place to go. So much to do, it is free, full of beauty, and worth making the effort.
Parking is plenty. Perfect for picnics and family days.
So many ducks: D

I really enjoy being outdoors and the sounds of nature. This place is so beautiful and well maintained. The paved path along the water is perfect for a nice jog with my dog. He really likes coming here so he can check out the scenery. The only problem is it gets very crowded on the weekends. I avoid the weekends and hit the park during the week. They shut the gate right at dusk/​sunset. So don’t park your car inside if you plan on staying later. Overall, I enjoy this place and it’s very peaceful to watch the ducks and wildlife while exercising.

This place is a gem for picnickers, joggers, and people who just need to escape by being outdoors. Its a great place to walk your dogs, as there are very well established paths winding around the lake. There are a variety of different birds from swans to geese and duck surrounding the area for bird lovers. The lake also allows for boat rentals and fishing. There are also many BBQ pits within the area for families to just get together.
Overall: Great place to just hang out and relax
Be on the lookout when the Cherry Blossoms start blooming, its just a beautiful sight

What an wonderful spacious well-​maintained park!
Even with crowds, the place has certain serenity to it. A huge lake adorned by gracious ducks everywhere.
The park has benches, and trees, and bbqs. Plenty of parking spaces. Many trash bins which are constantly cleared and checked upon.
It is so lovely and you are happy that our tax dollars are being used so well! There are children’s playground, quite safe with sand floors appropriate for different ages. My only issue is that I don’t think the bathrooms are enough– maybe build few more on different ends of the park.
Kudos to the maintenance crew and management in general.

I loved walking my dog around this area and it was nice to see a lake in the area! We just walked around the lake with another friend and dog. There were people everywhere just hanging out. The lake looked like it allowed peddle boating. There was also picnicking, BBQing, fishing, etc. A perfectly lovely area to go if you’re looking for a pretty walk and some nature in your life. Plus it is dog friendly!

Really enjoyed this park and its lake!
Lake balboa and Beilenson Park was very crowded on a Sunday afternoon. It was filled with people BBQ-​ing, having birthday parties, biking, fishing, feeding the ducks, and peddling boats haha. My girlfriends and I had so much fun!
Wheel Fun Rental: $ 10/​hr for cruiser per person. Bought a Groupon. Saved us 4 $ each person.
Peddle Boat: $ 10/​hr per person. Option of 2 peddler per boat or 4 per boat (2 peddles and 2 sits in the back). No Groupon.
Tips: Bring sunblock. Bring water. Bring a hat. Bring sunglasses.

Watch for the ducks! There is a nice stroll around the lake, bicycle trails, bbq grills and jungle gyms for the tots. On a sunny day, bring your cap. Also beware of high winds. Those winds will blow leaves into your face. And yes, bring sunscreen for your face. Number one reason, I remind you, is to go for those mighty ducks. Feed them imaginary bread out of your hands. #sincerity

I grew up in Sherman Oaks but never really spent a day at Balboa Lake. Went to the Kiwanis Garage sale earlier and got a play pen and umbrella for the dogs.
The park is HUGE and has so many sections that you don’t feel crammed or too many people. You can always find your «private area».
You can rent boat, bike, and bring your own kayak.
There were families celebrating birthdays, weddings and graduations.
Love this place. Will make this place my regular spot.

Huge park. Great for working out and a morning run. I ended up walking about 10 miles in about 3 hrs. It was a nice workout. There are a lot of people running, but it never felt overcrowded. There are some flies throughout the park, so be aware of that. The playground area is really big and nice inside of the park, and I think it’s pretty cool that they stock the lake with fish that you can reel in. Overall, I will definitely be coming back, especially to get in some morning exercise as this park is pretty close to my house.

I was brought here twice to run and I love the huge park, all-​green things around and those community gyms!
We ran along the perimeter of the park and around the lake. It’s all beautiful! It’s limitless and anyone can explore more.
Huge spaces for parking. Few running events are held here.

Overall great park. I went to jog at balboa park, in the early afternoon on a Saturday morning, and had a great workout. Balboa park is very spacious, and has something for everyone. The lake is full of ducks and swans, and although the lake and park aren’t spotless, it was pretty clean the day I went. I saw quite a few people fishing, I’m hoping just for fun (the water looked pretty murky to me). There were birthday parties, bbqs, fellow joggers, picnics, amateur photo shoots, and lots of people that brought their dogs.
a couple of things I didn’t like were all the flies, there were tiny day-​flies EVERYWHERE, which made it difficult to jog without them hitting your face. Also, there aren’t enough trees/​very little shade.

Beautiful landscape in San Fernando Valley.
Various activities you can do and enjoy at Lake Balboa Park.
1)Nice picnic spot
2)Long trail for walking/​running/​jogging
3)Biking
4)Enjoy paddle boating
5)Playground for kids
6)There are several benches placed around the lake to sit, relax and enjoy the view and the nature.
Sundays get crowded, as lots of people come for picnic; but overall is a family-​friendly park in this neighborhood.

I wish LA had a park like Central Park in New York city but sadly we don’t. :’(
I think it’s so important for a cosmopolitan area to have a beautiful park. It’s where you decompress and see all the awesome people that also live and love your city. It brings people together and inspires art and cultural convergence.
Park in a city is just simply romantic to me.
This park is beautiful and big enough to accommodate various activities. My favorite thing to do here is renting a bicycle, just bike around and have great conversations with someone awesome.
It’s both family and couple friendly. :)
Although it’s not in the middle of LA downtown, I am still very grateful for a park like this!

This was a very nice park out in the valley. Large lake with various picnic areas, bbq grills, and a bike rental place. There were quite a few people out spending time with families, excercising and fishing.
You can park in the large dirt lots when you first pull in if you want to avoid the majority of people parking. We found a spot in the dirt right next to a bridge that crossed over a creek right next to the lake and we saw a traffic jam in the further lots.
I rarely ever go to the valley but this park great, it was really nice to look at the mountains behind a large lake!

A Beautiful Park to come to and spend the day at. So many different features and recreation activities to do with family and friends. Plan your birthday party here. Its great for the young kids. Plenty of areas to ride your bike and skating.
Bring the dog out, however must have it on a leach. Also the lake. Sitting by the water really relaxes you. If you enjoy nature you’ll enjoy this park.
Its about 5 miles if your a runner or a jogger. Plenty of parking. Never an issue.