The Best Local Parks

If you’re looking to spend an afternoon alone from the hustle and bustle of life, this peaceful place will have you feeling tranquil from the moment you set foot on the grounds. This park is conveniently located in the San Gabriel Mountains at the top of Highland Oaks Drive. Who needs a therapist when you have the quiet healing powers of breathing in fresh air?

This place is also great for families and small groups. Wilderness Park has a nature center with many animals on display and a pond to enjoy. There are also plenty of .

Come out to the northernmost part of Arcadia for spectacular views and even take a hike.

Please take note that there is a reservation requirement to enter the park, but admission is free. Call the Wilderness Park Clerk at (626) 355-5309 between 8:30 a.m. and noon Monday to Friday to make your reservation.

Wilderness Park is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, May through September.

Arcadia County Park is the perfect spot for people of all ages. Whether you’re looking to get a workout or have a picnic, ACP has all of the resources you need for a plethora of activities.

If you have a family, there are children's play areas where the kids can expel their youthful energy. For adults and kids there are baseball diamonds, multi-purpose fields, a , tennis courts and bowling lawns.

This family-friendly park also hosts a variety of community events throughout the year, including , dance classes, children's programs, chess matches and various clubs.

One more highlight is that ACP is one of the few parks in the valley that offers lawn bowling.

If you feel like getting out of the city to explore neighboring parks, don't miss Memorial Park, located in the City of Sierra Madre. It is home to plentiful green landscape and shaded space provided by lush trees for a fun time any day of the week. There is a children's playground, , for kids to play on while you watch from a nearby picnic table or spot on the lawn. Bring a good read and

Memorial Park is also home to a variety of community activities throughout the year including: the , the , Friends of the Library , and the recently held .

If you feel like getting a workout in, play at your leisure on the tennis courts.

The park also has a permanent band shell that plays host to the City's free .

True to its name, the park is home to the Veterans' Memorial Wall, which , and the Weeping Wall Memorial, designed by local artist Lew Watanabe and dedicated in April 1999.

Also located in Sierra Madre, Sierra Vista Park is home to athletic activities including baseball games at Heasley and Dapper fields, at the Municipal Swimming Pool and year-round activities at the .

Fido is also welcome at this park, so bring along your pups and get them in on the physical fun. There are two municipal dog parks on the grounds where registered users can enjoy the outdoors with their canine companions.

If you’re looking to have a cookout, Sierra Vista Park has picnic tables, picnic pavilions and grills to have an outdoor get together with friends and family.

There is also a playground with swings, slides and all of the structures kids love to play on.

The park is also home to the , where each year the city's entry into the annual Pasadena Rose Parade.

The city's Community Service Office is located within Sierra Vista Park.

The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. There’s a free parking lot as well as street parking. This, along with other Sierra Madre parks, is handicap accessible.

Recreation Park is located in the City of Monrovia on South Shamrock Avenue. This public city park is a great spot for all athletic activities. The park features basketball courts, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, a baseball diamond and playground equipment. The basketball hardcourt can also be used for rollerskating or skateboarding.

Also, Recreation Park is also the home of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Foothills. Make it an all day event with everything the park has to offer.