Looking for a way to keep your kids busy?
There’s more to Hancock Park than the usual shopping and dining. A number of outdoor spaces will give your kids the chance to play, run, and see what’s out there.
Parks – Living in Los Angeles
Hancock Park La Brea
If your child is fascinated with dinosaurs and all things prehistoric, take her to Hancock Park La Brea, better known as the La Brea Tar Pits. This park sits on top a fossil mine, where archeologists have found fossils of mammoths and saber-toothed cats soaked in tar.
You won’t need a ticket to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum, which also rests on the property, to be able to roam the grounds – though a visit to the museum is highly recommended.
Not only will a day trip to this park keep your child occupied, it will also fuel her interest in natural history and science.
Los Angeles High Memorial Park
Right across Los Angeles High School you’ll find this small, unstaffed park that covers little more than a hectare. Mature trees provide enough shade so your child can comfortably ride the swings, skip rope, and play tic-tac-toe or hop-scotch. A spacious jungle gym will also let her work off some energy.
As the story goes, a group of students from LA High School purchased the property in 1922 so that they may dedicate it to classmates who passed away during the Great War.
The following year, students and alumni purchased the adjacent parcel, on which the Los Angeles Public Library was built in 1929. The library features elegant stained glass windows, and offers respite to bookish children who prefer reading time to rough play.
Harold A. Henry Park
This unstaffed but well-maintained park is another neighborhood gem you can take your child to. Play areas with slides, monkey bars, and cushioned flooring are ideal for small children.
Recent renovation work has transformed the playground surface area into mostly sand and non-toxic material, which reduces the risk for injury and is American Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant. New benches have been added, as well as a drinking fountain.
Several picnic tables can be used for intimate gatherings and birthday parties. You can also go for a leisurely stroll, thanks to the park’s clean and unobstructed walkways.
The park is named for Harold A. Henry, who served as Los Angeles City Council president for four terms and was actively involved in the beautification of Wilshire Boulevard.
LACMA Sculpture Garden
LACMA has plenty of open spaces for outdoor sculpture. Take your child to see these fascinating works of art during park hours – you won’t need a ticket to the museum, and the grounds are open even when the museum is closed.
One of the most awe-inspiring works on display is Chris Burden’s “Urban Light” – an installation of restored LA street lamps that date back to the 1920s and 1930s. The work can be found at the LACMA entrance at Wilshire Boulevard, and is illuminated 24 hours a day.
Hancock Park gives you easy access to these public spaces, so you’ll never have to worry about your kids getting bored. If you want to live in a neighborhood where there’s always something to do, get in touch with Sheri Bienstock and her team of Los Angeles Realtors at 323-332-1985 or send an email to [email protected].
