Shane's Inspiration at Griffith Park is for kids of all ages and abilities. Photo courtesy of Landscape Structures

The Best Playgrounds in Hollywood, Mid-City, and Griffith Park

1. Shane’s Inspiration — Griffith Park

Shane's Inspiration is the first all-inclusive and universally accessible playground in Los Angeles. Shane's is vast—the kind of playground where you can spend the better part of a day, with picnic tables nearby for easy eating on the go, and plenty of bathrooms. This is the playground that set the bar for all other playgrounds in Los Angeles for a long time.

The playground has ziplines, spinners, musical and sensory instruments, swings, see-saws, and (my favorite part) more shade. Now kids really can spend most of the day here without worrying about sunburns. If kids ever tire of this playground, take a short hike up to the Old Zoo grounds, or one of the many other things to do in Griffith Park such as the Griffith Park Southern Railroad and  Travel Town. Check out our Instagram reel from a recent visit! 

2. Pan Pacific Park — Mid-City

Pan Pacific Park, right next to The Grove, actually has a couple of playgrounds. There’s one by the parking lot at the recreation center (Renee’s Place), which is perfect for little train lovers. But the larger playground in the middle of the 28-acre park features accessible, interactive play and learning activities at ground level for kids of all abilities.

There is shade (yes!) and swings and slides. It’s part of the whole park facelift, which includes a new baseball diamond, soccer field, basketball courts, and more. With ice cream at Milk and loads of food options at the Original Farmers Market within easy walking distance, this is a park that families can park themselves at for the whole day.

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The new playground at Pan Pacific Park. Photo courtesy of the City of Los Angeles

3. Ferndell Trail Playground — Griffith Park

This magical playground is minutes from Hollywood- which makes sense because it's made of movie-like magic. Hike an enchanted fern grotto trail that ends in a whimsical woodland playground, with a divine little cafe right across the street. Like I said, it seems like the stuff of make-believe. The playground incorporates bits of nature, like rocks to climb and hide under, and animals to find perched on the rocks. My kids love scaling the rope climb over and over. When everyone gets hangry, we pop over to Trails Cafe for their famous "snake dogs" plus a coffee for mom. Here's an Instagram reel of our adventure there! 

4. Coldwater Canyon — Beverly Hills

This little playground is a gem. Pristine grounds, a little creek running through the park (currently not operational), exceptionally clean bathrooms, and a completely fenced-in playground with structures for both younger (2-5) and older (5-12) kids make this the least stress-inducing playground on the list. Which means this playground is popular. 

If this park and playground are too crowded, and you’ve driven all the way here, simply hop back in the car and drive further up the road to Franklin Canyon Park. After a stroll around Heavenly Duck Pond, come back for some playground time. You may even spot a celebrity here as several Hollywood elites have been recognized with their kids at this LA gem. 

5. Roxbury Park — Beverly Hills 

The grass really is greener at this beautiful spot in Beverly Hills. Monkey bars, rock climbing walls, loads of balance and spinning equipment, as well as enough swings to go around, are all at the playground. There’s a sand pit for little diggers nearby, but if parents want to keep kids out of the sand (there are those days when you just don’t feel up to coping with a whole pail of sand getting tipped from shoes into the backseat of the car), it’s easy to distract kids with all the other (shaded) equipment. Plenty of grass to play ball on, as well as tennis courts, and even bocce and croquet courts are available. So bring a book, a blanket, and a ball (and maybe some snacks), and wait for a turn at one of the prettiest playgrounds in town. 

6. Grand Park Playground — DTLA

Most people who come to Grand Park with kids come to the biggest section of the park, where the massive, free splash pad dominates the scene. Or families come for one of the many events, like the book fests or free concerts. But that means that kids are missing one of the great playgrounds of the city. The Grand Park Playground, across from City Hall, looks like a Dr. Seuss book came to life.

Meant to mimic an urban jungle, with climbing berms and structures, a tree fort, bright colors, and music-making stations, it’s a play space that captures the imagination of kids of all ages. On hot days, the splash fountain is just up the stairs to the west, and when kids get hungry, Grand Central Market is an easy walk down Broadway.

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Polliwog Park calls to seafaring kids, from the shores of the pond. Photo courtesy of the City of Manhattan Beach

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7. Polliwog Park — Manhattan Beach

The highlight of this park is the pond, which is home to all manner of ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. The adjacent playgrounds include a lighthouse-inspired climbing structure, sand area, and colorful tot lot. But it’s the proximity to all the birds that keeps kids entranced, while they play at the playground. If we ever need to drop friends or family off at LAX, we typically head here afterward to get the wiggles out before driving home. Here's an Instagram reel of our visit! 

8. Tongva Park — Santa Monica

This isn’t a typical swings-and-slides playground. Tongva Park was designed as an homage to the original inhabitants of this land, and as such, the features of the playground are built right into nature. Follow a creek, walk through natural art installations, climb the rock wall, explore the splash pad, find wildlife through the binoculars, and more. With the ocean providing a beautiful backdrop, this award-winning park appeals to everyone from out-of-town guests to energetic toddlers.

9. Malibu Bluffs Park Playground — Malibu

While the Malibu Cross Creek Playground is the shiny new park in town, my heart belongs to Malibu Bluffs Park. I’ve seen tweenagers who are too cool for school whooping like toddlers on the climbing structure and zip line. And new walkers love those same things, they just need a little help.

The enclosed playground is a wonderful basic playground, but it’s the spread of the play stations around the 6-acre park, with a zipline up along the jogging path, a sand pit with built-in diggers, a whale watching station, spectacular ocean views, and even a gorgeous bluffs hike, that makes this a destination playground. 

10. North Beach Playground — Santa Monica

Would you like your playground with a side of salty air and sandy shoreline? This unique playground off of Santa Monica's famous bike trail, The Strand, is not one to miss. We specifically drove into Santa Monica just to scooter from the pier to this playground, and the adventure did not disappoint. The enclosed play structure has tons of unique rope-course style features, and slides built right into a hill. Check out our Instagram reel! 

11. Agoura Hills Recreation Center Playground — Agoura Hills 

I stumbled across this one when attending a wedding at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center. This small park is an ode to California, with native animals incorporated into the play structure. If your kids have ever wanted to climb on a giant rattlesnake (without the fear of venom), this is your place. The playground is custom-built to mimic the Southern California terrain, with hills to scale, rocks to climb, and plenty of fun for everyone. Here's an Instagram reel of our visit! 

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Glen Alla Park. Photo courtesy of the City of Los Angeles

12. Glen Alla Park — Marina del Rey

Run, climb, slide, swing, even roll down a hill built just for rolling. This nautical-themed park has a ship, whale, and turtle to climb on. With a nearby dog park, and mature trees with large low branches perfect for climbing, this neighborhood park has it all. I have one kid who loves dogs and another who is terrified of them; this park is a sanity-saver that keeps both kids happy since one can watch the pups play while the other feels safe playing in the fully fenced-in playground.

13. Los Arboles Rocketship Park — Torrance

Ground control to Major Tom! The name says it all. This mid-century three-story rocketship and stunning city views make this a worthwhile outing for any family, but for budding astronauts, this is the (pun intended) mother ship. There is also a more modern playground next to the retro rocket. 

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Reese's Retreat at Brookside Park has everything an aspiring pirate could want. Photo courtesy of the City of Pasadena

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14. Reese’s Retreat at Brookside Park — Pasadena

My kids call this one the pirate park. It’s Pasadena's first universally-accessible playground. The proximity to the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center and Kidspace Children’s Museum makes it a perfect place to drop by after swim lessons or a day at Kidspace. If you’ve got little rascals who long to make you walk the plank, it’s worth a drive across town. The play structure is a giant pirate ship, with cannons and climbing and planks, there are fish to ride around the ship, and the pièce de résistance is that in the sand pit, there is actual running water, so sand castles stay built. This is one of our favorite playgrounds. Check out an Instagram reel of a recent visit here! 

15. Vincent Lugo Park — San Gabriel

This is another mid-century masterpiece, so off the bat it’s important to note that safety standards are not what most parents today are used to. Everything isn’t plastic nor has soft edges. What it is, is awesome. It kind of feels like a mini-golf course, minus the putting greens, where kids can run wild. Jonathan Haidt would be pleased. There are 14 different sea creatures that rise from the sand for kids to climb, slide, and play on. It’s the only playground I know of that is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and is definitely worth a visit for all Angelenos.

16. West Creek Park — Valencia 

Look for the turquoise and lime green at this perfect playground in Valencia. It's fully fenced, so parents can park it on one of the many benches around the perimeter without fear of losing a kiddo. This park has it all, from a zipline to a merry-go-round spinner, to separate play structures for bigs and littles. Slightly away from the gated playground is a basketball hoop challenge with a variety of different hoops with all manner of heights and angles. My boys can play here for hours (so make sure to bring a basketball along). There are clean bathrooms, pavilions, and tables for picnicing, and trails for scootering or rollerblading. Here's an Instagram reel of our West Creek Park visit! 

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Costanso Fire Station 84 Park. Photo courtesy of RecWest Outdoor Products

17. Costano Fire Station 84 Park — Woodland Hills

If Reese’s Retreat is for young seafaring scallywags, this is for little firefighters. It’s a big ol’ fire truck play structure. It’s 100% in the shade, which is a big sell for this hot-as-blazes in the summer location. And the entire park is fenced in. The only downside to this park is that there are no public restrooms, so if you’re making the trek here from another part of town, go before you go—or take note of the Whole Foods across the street or Trader Joe’s just a few blocks away (both are great for potty and snack breaks). We have an Instagram reel from our visit here! 

18. Lacy Park — San Marino

This one is for parents. Yes, kids adore this park. The lush grass is perfect for playing ball and picnics, and the loop around the park is perfect for young bikers. There’s a Rose Garden to explore and, of course, a fantastic climbing playground that fits seamlessly into the wooded area and has tons of picnic tables and seating for parents. The entire park is gated, so while it is large, it is enclosed and safe. The bathrooms are clean.

You can plonk a blanket in the middle of the grass by the playground and watch younger kids play while big kids bike the loop. Honestly, it’s like the planners asked parents what they would want in a park and playground, and served it up on a platter. Lacy Park used to have a $5 weekend fee for visitors who are not residents of San Marino. However, following the nearby fires in 2025, the city decided to suspend the fee for the time being, so now everyone can enjoy Lacy Park free of charge. 

19. Anthony Beilenson Park at Lake Balboa — Van Nuys

Two playgrounds (one for toddlers, the other for big kids) sit across from one another. The toddler playground has swings, activity centers, and tons of sand (bring a bucket and shovel), while the bigger playground for older kids has multiple slides, swings (even a tire swing), and a tiny castle for kids to explore. In itself, it's a great playground. But what really makes this playground destination-worthy is that it has so much more: swan paddle boats (and real swans in the lake), kayak rentals, surrey rentals, bike paths, a Japanese garden, golf (!), and more. Bring a picnic and plan to stay for the day.