Echo Park — Attraction in Los Angeles

Very nice park for families and couples, it is a relaxing park with some street vendors, public restrooms, people sit on the lawn and on benches or just walk around, be ready to take pictures as the views are a combination of nature, city and downtown high rise buildings, there are lots of swans and ducts all over the lake and on the lawn, they are friendly and are used to people so it's easy to take pics from a short distance. Free street parking might be hard to find a nearby space on the weekends but you can park a block or two down the street, the park is located right in a neighborhood city across local houses and apt buildings so in the daytime there are people walking on the street, there are a few shopping stands for souvenirs and misc. If you want the full experience, you can rent a Swan pedal boat for $12 each adult and $7 children, for one hour (best to reserve and pay online) you wont be disappointed, I saw couples which is so romantic if you go for a date, 4 adults fit perfect, the staff is helpful and polite, if you are visiting from out of town expect about 1-2...

From out of town. Today was my first visit and I was delighted by the attention to and maintenance of amazing "green spaces" and botanicals! Many happy folk walking (with and without dogs), jogging, ducks and geese, gorgeous weather, simply the perfect park. Until...we passed a group of tents. "The homeless", I was informed. Each little shelter was surrounded by the random clutter of their necessities. Little further on a single tent had sprung up next to sidewalk right on the water and, later, still another, complete with junk all around it, in a stand of palms and blooming Lantana. In between these displays were solo souls sprawled about on the grass, always with 'stuff' strewn near them, dozing or whatever. I'm GLAD they have tents, home so to speak, but wishing they'd relocate to established true camp site (maybe with bathhouses/toilets?). This beautiful public park where there are families, playground, fishing, people exercising, 'swanboats', birds and fauna, hardly seems enhanced by presence of the homeless and their habitats. Four...

A beautiful, accessible, safe public space -- a peak experience in terms of nature in the heart of a major urban area, with vintage Angeleno infrastructure (the staircases and cute little nooks in the retaining walls), a great balance of landscaping & flora growing at will, and satisfying views of DTLA.

It's open late enough that you can go for a little romantic perambulation after the coffee shop closes or you've had a drink at the bar, but is well lit and -attended enough that you don't need to unreasonably fear getting mugged.

During the day it's a constant social hour, with sunbathers, exercisers, and people hanging out alike.

After I had minor surgery, my specialist and physical therapist both recommended I travel from a nearby neighborhood to walk around the lake at least once a week. Am pretty well healed by now and still do that just for the sheer enjoyment of it.

The fountains and swan boats are like sprinkles and a...