Verdugo Park, Burbank California

We had to run to Trader Joe's today to stock up on our summer goodies and decided to have some fun and hit the park before.

We went to Verdugo Park by spotting a green area on the GPS and hitting "Go". Little did we know this awesome park also had a pool attached to it and a sweet lookin' water park! We'll go back for that for sure.

Valley Village Park

Breaking the cabin fever we dashed out of the house yesterday to venture to a park never graced by our presence, the Valley Village Park. This is a cute (yes, I said cute, I live with 3 females, give me a break) little park is nestled in a cute (there it is again!) neighborhood. You would never know it was there unless you searched for it.

Great playground with what appears to be semi new equiptment

Beautiful trees and open fields

Some shade over the playground

Port-o-potties for the out of commission bathrooms

A running/walking/biking trail

Pros and Cons

Pros

Not very crowded

Nice semi new playground equipment

Lots of trees for shade

Close Bathrooms (hopefully the real bathrooms become operational soon)

Cons

Next to a freeway so freeway noise is always present

From a Parent's Perspective this a great little park. It's safe, convenient and provides opportunities for kids to be kids. There is plenty of space for them to explore on the playground equipment as well as explore nature.

From a Kid's perspective what's not to love? Minus the "Yucky" port o potties this park is perfect. Trees to climb, new things to do on the playground that we haven't seen before and not too many kids so it feels like the park is all ours!

Address: 200 Westpark Dr, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Encino Park

Last week the family and I picked up some dinner and headed over to Encino Park! I was let on to this park by a good friend of mine, Shauna! And it is a really cool park! Right off Ventura Blvd this grassy, shady picnic spot is perfect to unwind after a long day of work and just let the kids run around!

Great (looks like newly updated) playground

Pros and Cons

Pros

Public Bathrooms

Gated Playground (No escaping children!)

Lots of Picnic Tables

BBQ 

Clean

Cons

Metered Street Parking Only

From a Parent's perspective this is a great, safe place to park. Just make sure you pay the meter and keep a timer because like all of LA, the meter nazis are on this place. The gated playground is awesome knowing you can just sit back and watch your kids play without fear of them running into a street or wandering off too far.

From a Kid's perspective, what's not to love? I mean, your parents make you sit down and eat dinner while watching all the other kids have fun on the playground, but once you've finished your vegetables you're free to go! The playground is fun, the open grassy field is great for playing tag and kids don't care if there's only an old tire to play with, being outside with mom and dad is where it's at!

Address: Encino, CA 91316 (Across the street from the Stand)

Hours:
5:00 am - 10:00 pm

Johnny Carson Park & The Tonight Show Playground

Today we had a little errand to run in the Burbank Area so we hit up a park we've been to a couple times, the Johnny Carson Park. It's a great little park in the heart of Burbank right off the 134 freeway, next to NBC studios and St. Joseph Hospital. 

There are a lot of huge beautiful trees and green grass to run around, perfect for a soccer or football game or a picnic.  There are public bathrooms are close to the playground, which is always a plus. And there are bridges to explore and play on. There are a lot of people walking their dogs and new exercise equipment for adults plus a great walking/running path. 

Tiny little creek...but we wouldn't get in. Who knows where that water comes from...

Cool bridge to explore and play on!

Photo by Indie

Photo by Zoe

Decent Bathrooms...always a plus!

Peary!

Pros and Cons

Pros
Open fields to run and play.
Clean bathrooms
Old vintage playground.
Not crowded at all
Safe area

Cons

No shade over playground

Slides are a little high from sand

Freeway close by is noisy!

Parent's Perspective

Great places to sit down in the shade and watch your kids play in the hot sun. Totally safe, not very many people on a weekday and a fun playground!

Kid's Perspective

Who cares if the playground is old? It's awesome! Plus it's different than most the other playgrounds we've visited so far so that's a big plus. Not very many people around during the weekday so kids feel like they OWN the playground!

Address:

Johnny Carson Park
Burbank, CA 91505

Cheers!
-marc, zoe and indie