Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area — Attraction in Los Angeles

I grew up exploring the LA River and the basin is the headwaters. I used to catch an amazing variety of animals down there bluegill, catfish, minnows, enormous bullfrogs, huge crayfish. What I remember the most was there were these goldfish down there, literally thousands of them but these ones were different, they looked like Koi. Exact same coloration the oranges, blacks, white and gold. They averaged about 6 to 8 inches and the schools of these fish were enormous. That's all gone now since they put in the water treatment plant, it hasn't been the same. The water got slow and warm, great for mosquitoes but not fish. Although, now there are turtles in the section north of Burbank and I've seen some pretty big fish jumping, probably just regular carp. Now they got these huge birds: gray herons, great egrets, every duck species I've ever seen, cormorants and seagulls and pelicans it's kind of amazing -all the fish are gone, and then these birds show up. Nowadays, I go down to the section between Burbank and the dam looking for fossils in the sand bars and I find a lot. This whole San Fernando valley used to be in inland Sea and I find all sorts of shells fossilized crabs, sea sponges and occasionally turtles all in really good condition except they're 16 million years old imagine that it's crazy. If you're going to go down there wear your shoes at all times. Do not go barefoot anywhere. Stay away from the homeless people they are usually pretty mellow but still, you never know. Plus, whenever there's a meteor shower or a lunar eclipse or some sort of night time astronomical event, even 4th of July, the view is pretty good but you can find a really dark sky if you're down in the basin along Woodley. Night time viewing conditions are better there than anywhere up in the mountains. But, if you are there late at night, it's amazingly cold even in the summer. dress warm....

While the independent instructors (who provide and set up their own equipment) and city recreational staff are enthusiastic and hardworking, the general state of the facility (and therefore the performance and/or provision of maintenance staff) is quite poor: areas that should be covered by turf are never irrigated, and accordingly bare or overrun by foxtails and burr clover while what little grass remains is torn and shredded by soccer players' indiscriminate use of cleats (despite the fact that the soccer field has a paradoxically dense green lawn, clearly watered, weeded and exquisitely manicured); unwatered trees are riddled with disease, other plantings sparse and haphazard; paving is cracked and broken, sometimes missing altogether; fencing, gates, walls, courts and buildings are in poor repair and additionally often dirty; lastly, there is no enforcement of the 30 plus-year ban on smoking at City parks which was expanded in 2007 to include ALL areas (parking, previously designated zones, etc.) other than golf courses -- butts litter everything, landscape, hardscape and parking, and I've seen smokers respond violently to requests that they put out their cigarettes. All in all, it's a miserable place to exercise, participate in a sport or engage with the outdoors and green open space, unless you're a soccer player. Apparently none of the rest of us matter to Receive and Parks...

At a loss for something to do, you can find a bunch of inexpensive activities at the sepulveda basin. This SFV retreat is a local favorite where you will find Balboa Park, Woodley Golf Course, and the trails for biking, jogging, roller skating, and walking. There's even a fish filled lake that you can circle on foot, about a mile around. Go it alone, with a dog (on leash), friends, or your family. At the lake, you can fish or take a paddle boat but there's no swimming. This park area is vast. Picnics are popular here, with plenty of open spaces, and large grassy areas; the trees are abundant offering natural shade. Easy to find picnic tables sprinkled thoughout the park. I've seen people barbequeing. There are other areas in the park where groups gather for special events. Vendors sell food, drinks and snacks. Bring a folding chair or blanket or roller skates. I enjoy my visits here because I can walk along the lake or on the trails. Ride my bike or just relax in a chair near the lake to vegetate. You can also purchase food from the golf course restaurant (19th hole), the burgers are pretty good. This place gets pretty busy during summer months, but in the fall, winter, and spring the crowds dissipate. Mornings are nice for a jog. Closes at dust. A safe public place where you can to chill....