Tongva Park

Tongva Park in Santa Monica is a beautifully designed urban oasis that offers a variety of amenities for visitors of all ages. The park is divided into four main sections: Observation Hill, Discovery Hill, Garden Hill, and Gathering Hill.  One of the park’s standout features is the Observation Hill, which provides stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The playground at Discovery Hill is a hit among children, featuring modern climbing structures and slides that keep them engaged. Garden Hill showcases a diverse array of native and drought-tolerant plants, reflecting California’s coastal ecology. Gathering Hill offers open spaces perfect for picnics and community events.    The park’s design incorporates curving pathways that wind through sculpted landscapes of hills and ravines, creating a sense of exploration and tranquility. Water features and art installations add to the park’s aesthetic appeal, making it a pleasant place to relax and unwind.  While the park is generally well-maintained, some times there is the presence of homeless individuals in the area. However, many feel safe during daytime visits and appreciate the park’s cleanliness and amenities. Overall, Tongva Park offers a serene escape in the heart of Santa Monica, blending natural beauty with thoughtful design. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax, play, or enjoy scenic views, this park is worth a visit.

The most beautiful urban park I have seen in Los Angeles. It’s not that big and it’s not that small. As I entered the park I noticed brightly colored structures that looked like sculptures. It wasn’t until I could make out that certain parts of the structures resembled things you’d see in a playground that I found out that indeed these structures were part of a playground. So, I think it’s incredibly cool that a playground could ever look like art. There are climbing gyms, rock climbing thingies, slides and more. The park has many paved paths and the vegetation and trees are harmonious with these paths. The park isn’t flat which makes it very interesting. There’s an amphitheater area. There are restrooms. I got a kick out of the fact that the gender silhouettes of the men’s and women’s sides aren’t the usual stick figure ones but rather more realistic silhouettes with interesting poses. I mean, you wonder why they made them so loose and free. They’re pretty random. Kind of weird. lol. There’s actually a park security attendant stationed by the restrooms. That there’s a security person on the grounds will give you an idea that the overall safety in the park can be dubious. There are also a few of these security personnel throughout the park. It’s a sad reminder that our society has gotten to the point where manifestations of socioeconomic injustices are present in a place designed for children and recreation. I didn’t see any children of course but it was a drizzly day. The park is named after the indigenous people that inhabited our immediate region. On one hand it’s good they are recognized, but you have to wonder what they feel about it and if they were consulted. This park definitely is a place to reflect on past, present and ongoing reminders that things of beauty cannot cover up the dark side of humanity. However, parks are places where nature is allowed to resist the concrete world around it and its defiance pays tribute to the cultures that preceded us which were better caretakers of the world around us. There are meters around the park.

As a local Los Angeles wedding photographer, I highly recommend Tongva Park for wedding couple portraits or any photo session. The park offers so many beautiful spots, and with an experienced photographer, you can really take advantage of the variety of settings it provides. There are stunning terraces, areas with beautiful flowers, and exotic plants that make for unique and vibrant backdrops. The design of the park itself gives you a lot of options for different looks, whether you want something lush and green or more modern with clean lines. The only downside to shooting at Tongva Park (That is the reason bc I am leaving 3 stars) is that, like many public spaces in the area, there are sometimes homeless people around. While it’s not always a problem, it’s something to be aware of during your session. That being said, the park is still a beautiful and inspiring place for photos, and overall, it’s a great spot to capture some beautifull moments.

This is a great park located on Ocean Avenue really close to the Santa Monica Pier. My wife and I walked near this park other times, but this was my first time walking into it. It is great for families because they have slides and splash areas, and there are some great architectural features. I found it very tranquil, and I especially liked the platforms with views of the beach and the pier. It is worth spending time there.

It's a nice and beautiful park, the playground is good for kids, though the sprinklers didn't work. I don't know if they are broken or it was just too cold that day. There used to be streams going along the pathways, they didn't work as well. There were a lot of homeless people in the park.

We went to town of Park to walk the dog. There were several areas that caught my eye. The artistic way in which the pathways were created expands the views of the small independent little areas that offer peace and meditation separate from the busy Santa Monica crowd just across the street. The restrooms were staffed with someone they were clean and better than I expected. Returning to the park after a walk on the pier the sun began to set and I noticed scores of homeless people coming to the park to sleep. When I went through the park there weren't any homeless people about.

If I could give 9 stars I would, an incredibly creatively laid out public park with climbing equipment and slides like you've never seen before (check out the pictures). There are lots of bushes and trees, whisking you way from the bumble of the city. There are plenty of quite places to sit and read or just close your eyes. There have lockers and bathrooms as well - and you are just beyond the Santa Monica pier.

A good use of space between the Santa Monica City Hall and the pier. On crowded Sundays, we’ve parked by the City Hall and walked thru this pretty park to get to the pier and beaches. We’ve even stopped here to eat our take-out’s from a nearby restaurant, and then watched the sunset! The exotic desert plants were very well maintained. There were trash containers strategically placed, encouraging users to pickup where they left off! The grounds and restrooms are well kept. The artsy design of objects, seating areas and bordering made for a unique park setting, as well as the playground structures and mildly inclined, simulated (soft) rock climb steps, placed for kids to play on. Families with children were playing here, despite a small homeless presence, tho they didn’t seem to be bothering anyone. I did see surveillance cameras mounted here and there, instilling a sense of normalcy in an otherwise uncertain environment. After all, this is a great little public park for everyone to enjoy!

This is a really awesome park next to the hustle of Third Street. It's awesome in spite of (not despite) the people who choose to take up residence here. Homeless is one thing but blatantly littering and destroying stuff is another. And stealing too, there used to be dog bowls out here but apparently even that little item gets stolen. No one is so broke they need to steal a dog bowl, that's just a personality problem. They have plenty of bathrooms here which I bring up because having to go while out and about is the bane of my existence. Nice place to walk, lots of benches and seating, again lots of which is occupied by homeless people. There is a city ambassador here near the bathrooms, I guess that's a new public employee position. I don't remember that being here a decade ago. Sounds legit. Except for when the people in the park start throwing their stuff everywhere on purpose of course. Probably why decent public assistance is hard to come by in this city. Sorry but Santa Monica doesn't need to be where you set up shop to be homeless of all places, the least you could do is keep it from becoming complete trash like the inner city.

Small but nice - this park has a lot of man-made facilities, like playgrounds for children and walkways that meander through the park. Not a lot of open space as it is in the heart of Santa Monica beach front. There's an oasis vibe here as the Ocean Avenue outside is often crowded with tourists and cars. Here, you can actually enjoy some quiet time with family and friends.

Great, small park with a lot to do, especially if you have kids. These cultures are really cool and industrial, quite a nice place to wander around and take in some art. There are decently clean restrooms available. I saw a ton to do for children, jungle gyms, slides, the works. Looks like an absolutely great place to take the kids. I saw several folks walking their dogs as well, and people bringing coffee just to relax in the area. Seems like a really nice spot for that, and I really enjoyed the view of the beach from the upper area of the park. Nice place to stop!

Let me first say that this is a very beautiful park and it pretty much stops there. The weird thing about it is how the regular folk are there playing with there kids, the couples taking a walk together and people just enjoying being there and then you see the amount of homeless people sleeping, hanging out and doing drugs amazes me. I'd think the city of Santa Monica could do better than this but hey it's not my city. Its even crazier the city of Santa Monica is across thw street. When you first walk in you see how nice it is but then the stench of piss slaps you in the face. Let's just say it's not a good feeling or smell. There is so many parts to this park that is amazing but I couldn't help think the deeper I walked in I'm taking a chance at losing my life. Also parking sucks for a public park cuz you have to pay for it.

Great little hidden gem across from Santa Monica courthouse. Really great place to bring young children. They have 3 slides, a rock climbing wall, and areas for them to run and climb. Parking can be difficult and it's not possible to just easily "circle the block". You have to go up several blocks to go around if you miss their main street parking. It's metered parking, but worth it to go!

This is a neat little park right across from Santa Monica pier. On a nicer day this would be such a pleasant place to sit and get fresh air, enjoy some sunshine and good company. It's also right in the middle of Santa Monica so it's close walking to the pier, beach, and blocks of shopping, coffee and other eats.

Nice sized park between City Hall and the Santa Monica Pier and beach. I walked through this park every morning headed in that direction and it is very clean and well maintained. Every time I walked through, I took a different route and saw something different. Yes, there were some homeless people here, but they were ok by me. There is a kids area on one side of the park, and plenty of grassy areas which are maintained well enough to lay on. Very nice park!!

TONGVA PARK is a beautiful midsize modern urban park overlooking the ocean. Stretching over six acres, the park has unique structures, art sculptures, diverse and sustainable plants and trees, and plenty of amenities for everyone to enjoy. There are walking paths throughout the park allowing visitors to easily explore the four sections of the park. A good park is that it's a block away from SM pier. However, be aware there are copious amount of homeless people in this park. Overall, it's a pretty park to chill and enjoy the day.

What a cute park conveniently near the Santa Monica pier. Watch out for sleepy sleepers!

It's great park near Santa Monica pier and promenade. I took my two dogs for walk there. Nice views and some sculptures. There is also dog park within. It's just too bad there were lots of trash and many homeless people. I just didn't feel safe or sitting at one of the benches there. They have toilet and some staffs in front. I didn't use the bathroom so I don't know how clean it would be but I bet it's clean. I parked one of promenade parking (structure 8 I guess) and walked so I didn't have to pay for meter. Once is enough for me unless someone is completely new for visiting Santa Monica.

This is a cute park in Santa Monica. We went in the morning since everything was closed on the pier still. Our kids had fun playing on their large playground with a rock climbing hill, slide, and climbing structures. The playground was clean. The negative was almost every bench was occupied with homeless people sleeping or just laying around. It made the park seem a bit unsafe since we had our two young kids with us. They have a public bathroom which was clean. There is also a person who staff a information cart by the bathrooms if you need maps or directions which is nice.

DO NOT BRING KIDS HERE. This park is dangerous and not patrolled even though the police station and courthouse is literally next door. Please be careful walking into this park. There are very distributed and drugged up homeless people in this park at all times. Just yesterday I woman was butt naked walking around the park. I've seen people dedicate in the fountain. This park is so poorly designed and needs to be demolished. Sometimes I'll cut through here to get to Starbucks and often regret it. If someone attacks you, there is no one there that will come to your defense. Sometimes there's a security guard by the bathrooms, but security guards are useless in this city. They don't want to be stabbed either. Please be safe and do NOT bring children to this park. Take them to the beach.

Great park amidst busy Santa Monica Pier area. It's literally across the street from the pier. I have been to the Santa Monica Pier many times but had never noticed this place. Things are well maintained here with no trash on the ground. The flowers are blossom right now. I have taken so many flower pictures since they were so pretty. The highlight of the park is the view to the ocean and the pier. During sunset, you can view the spectacular sunset from two platforms. The two dome like structure perch over the park into Ocean Blvd which gives a perfect view of the sunset over the pacific over with the pier as the foreground. Parking is easy for the park as there is a big parking structure on Colorado Blvd across from the pier. 3 hour max for parking but the cost is very cheap, I only paid $2 for 2 hours.

I so want to give this park a 5, but taking the homeless situation happening here when I visited on a Sunday morning at around 10:30AM, I just cannot. The park does have some amazing amenities and landscaping (exotic flowers and waterfalls) though. There are play structures and soft padded areas for kids to play. Not going to lie, I tried out the spinny cup looking yellow chairs and those things go FAST! If you get dizzy easily, I do not recommend. Only a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier with ample street parking by City Hall, I'd definitely recommend you check out this park if you happen to be in the area. Not sure it's worth the drive if you're coming from far away.

This is a smashing little park right by Santa Monica pier. In the depths of a covid 2nd wave there is not much to do or to go anywhere, but this a nice place to go for a walk, especially in the evenings. At twilight, it is quite magical with a clear evening sky. The fountains were not working but it is still good to visit.

This is really one of my very favorite parks. It's beautiful, well-designed and features native and drought-resistant plants from similar climate areas: South Africa, the Mediterranean, Chile, Peru, Australia, New Zealand. Over its 6 acres, you will find winding pathways, hills, bridges, sculptures, modern water features, a playground featuring a mini rock wall and Splash Pad (now open from 10 am - 6 pm). You'll also see some of the 300 trees representing 21 species and 30,000 plants from 170 unique species. Opened in 2013, this was a huge investment by the City of Santa Monica and was designed by NYC-based James Corner Field Operations, who also gave us Manhattan's High Line Park. It's named for the indigenous people who inhabited this area for thousands of years, the Tongva. There is a diverse mix of people who utilize the park...everyone from the homeless to the tourist to the locals to the young lovers and moms with strollers and joggers. There is security present, especially by the very clean restroom area. City Hall is behind the park, and the water feature there was designed by the same firm. There are bicycle rentals along the side of the park and a Starbucks on the southeast corner. Tongva Park is worth a visit if you're in the area. Yelp Challenge 2018: 47/100

Beautifully designed park that the city invested $96M to created, unfortunately there are homeless people on every bench and concerned about the safety of allowing my kids to play. Unless the city addresses this issue, I won't be back

Tongva Park perfectly exemplifies the quandry that we of Los Angeles County find ourselves in at the moment. We want to help the homeless and yet have not found a solution by a long shot. Despite the (hopefully) best intentions of our city and county politicians, and the fact that we the citizens of this county voted in a tax on ourselves to help the homeless, health hazards continue to increase and beautiful locations are being destroyed by encampments, piles of trash, and crowds of people relieving themselves wherever they can. Tongva Park in and of itself is lovely: ocean views, gorgeous landscaping, and an homage to the original inhabitants of this stunning land, who obviously knew how to take care of our environment *much* better than we do. Want proof? Read the accounts of the first Spanish visitors to our lovely City of Angels, who remarked on how lush and gorgeous it was and what a beautiful scent greeted them from the blooms of native plants. No more. A recent visit on my morning jog revealed a large portion of benches occupied by urban campers who'd obviously spent the night and relieved themselves here and there. There were cigarette butts scattered about, as well as trash from meals eaten on the fly. No one bothered me (they were still asleep at 8 am) but it certainly did not make one want to stop and relax. It's truly unfortunate that the City's best intentions have been hijacked by the massive homelessness problem. I would love to recommend this park but not until our politicians do their jobs and guide us to a humanitarian way out of this crisis.

We met some friends at this park on a Saturday and it was nice. There is a nice playground and the play area is large. There are some tables that are first come, first served and people had them for a kid's birthday party. f the playground isn't your thing, there are large grass areas and the construct and feel of the park is modern. There are different elevations to the park and a few lookouts where you can see the ocean. There are bathrooms here, but the conditions vary based on how soon you get there after a cleaning. There are bike racks and public transportation comes by here as parking is a bear. This is a great addition to the city.

One of the best parks to go to the bathroom are very clean and its good to have a baby shower here and a birthday party here so if you're having planning on have a baby shower or a birthday party or you wanna just hang out with your friends than this park is for you

A cute little park off the beaten path in Santa Monica (located off of the PCH exit). There is an area for kids (slides and mock "rock climbing" on grass). Also a small waterfall. There are two "overlooks" to get a good view of the ocean. Plenty of benches and grassy areas to chill out on. Saw a woman teaching yoga. There is a little restaurant with a patio that serves coffee, breakfast and lunch until 2pm. Despite a few homeless people (but they do leave you alone), the park is exceptionally clean. Want a area to chill, check this park out. Yelp Challenge: #26/100.

This is a beautiful park that sadly has been taken over by tweakers and homeless people to the point where every bench and picnic table is taken over by men with tents, motorbikes and lawn chairs everywhere even when they aren't occupying them. One man camped out in one of the overlooks for a solid week, just hanging out in his lawn chair. Their trash is all over the place. I work nearby and would love to be able to go sit and read a book during my lunch hour or after work, but can't due to the fact that there is nowhere to be without having to deal with drugged out or drunk men. While I have compassion for the homeless, most of these folks just want to live in the park. Its really sad.

For an escape from the tourists hustling and bustling about Santa Monica, Tongva Park is the place to go. Truly an urban oasis, Tongva Park was developed by the same people who were the architects of the High Line in New York. The park itself is not entirely linear with multiple levels adorned with a wide variety of flowers, grasses, and succulents. Inside are little mini playgrounds suitable for children while the perimeters have circular outlooks with beautiful views of the Santa Monica pier. A major plus is that the place bathrooms for public use which is hard to find otherwise unless shopping along the Third Street Promenade. Because of its prime location, you are bound to see a wide variety of people walking about. Several people have mentioned that it is filled with homeless people. Although partly true, I do feel that it does not necessarily detract from the beauty of this park. Part of its appeal is that it is a public space open for all to enjoy. Plus, the people who maintain the park do a pretty good job of keeping the place fairly clean. Overall, Tongva Park is a beautiful achievement that is worthy of visiting especially if you want to get some respite from the city.

This park is amazing. The location is perfect, very close to the beach, parking, city hall, restaurants, etc. You can walk to the pier and the park from the main parking structure and it is first 90 minutes free and then a charge for every hour. It was about $5 or $6 for 5-6 hours. The park is clean, has some great shade, picnic tables, a wide variety of things for kids to do, artwork, the cleanest bathrooms around, plus helpful attendants who ask you if you need help, maps, directions, etc. There were some homeless people taking adventure of what the park has to offer as well. This park is on many lists for iconic Los Angeles places to take a picture, because of the cool overlook and great sunsets. Definitely a good spot to chill and relax, to get away from the craziness at the pier and surrounding parks adjacent to the pier.

We heard about this park from a family friend. We never had a chance to visit until recently. We have 3 children ages 6 4 and 1. There was an activity for each of them to do. My daughter kept climbing a very small rock climbing wall and she loved it. Long tail is fun for a bike and is very safe. My son rode his bike around freely and was always in eyes site. He made a couple of friends who had scooter and they challenged each other to the end of the trail. My youngest got to hang out with me on the swing set. He loved it but got alot bored little too fast. We did alot of walking and he loves running around. My only concern was the parking as there was only street parking close to the park so we had to pay for it. Also, it was limited so make sure to get there early enough to enjoy it. The beach is close enough and there is a nice breath :)

The park is well maintained and has plenty of riding space my my 4 year olds on their scooters. There are plenty of benches and the people are very respectful of each other. Plenty of kids for my kids to interact with. It is beautifully maintained and I get a nice little workout in chasing my scooter riders around the various pay has. Parking is challenging. With limited park side metered parking. There are people sleeping on benches. But everyone is respectful so I have no worries letting my kids get a distance in front of me. There are clean bathrooms. There is usually something interesting going on. Lots of places for a simple picnic. When we're done enjoying the park, we have lots of restaurants to choose from. Considering how expensive life in Santa Monica is, this is a great way to spend a few hours on a Sunday for just the cost of metered parking.

Well date of Visit :March 21 , 2021 and it was a beautiful day for a walk in the Park !! Well first of all you got to know this is one of the Places you got to visit if your in Santa Monica !! It's an beautiful Park to bring your kids or friends and family !! There are lots of beautiful Plants and benches for you to sit all around this park and also they have cool slides here for your kids !!! It's just that you might have to park at the Santa Monica Pier for 10 dollars for the whole day !! But it's well worth it !! Lots of places to hangout also !! It's one nice park and I was looking around and it's an park perfect for you to walk , Jog or just to sit and enjoy your lunch !! It does get crowded here because of location !! It is located very close to the Santa Monica Pier and it's walking distance to park from the pier !! So I do suggest you put this park on your Bucket List and enjoy !! I sure can find myself coming back here and enjoying again !!

On a Sunday sojourn around the Santa Monica area, I happened to come across this park to admire the scenery and take some pictures. I was only here for 10 minutes tops, but the plants, artificial waterfall, and landscape seemed pretty nice. A few families were here with children as well to enjoy the playground. I did see a few vagrants here and there though I encountered no troubles while I was there. Follow the instruction of the locals and don't visit here during the nighttime. For a brief gander during the day, it is a pretty nice park. Just be aware of your surroundings. IG: Mood4foodeatery

Heart this park which was steps away from my hotel I was staying at JW Marriott La Merigot, the park is just northwest of the hotel. The urban park was busy with local and tourist moms who were bringing their kids to the water fountains during a nice summer day to cool off. I heart the landscaping here and the City of Santa Monica had water conservation in mind since all the water features contained recyclable water and the plants and shrubs were water conservative, but yet still eye appealing. The park is broken into five sections: *Discovery Hill - Tongva Park, southeast *Garden Hill - Tongva Park, northeast *Gathering Hill - Tongva Park, northwest *Observation Hill - Tongva Park, southwest *Ken Genser Square - In front of City Hall Check the front of the park facing Ocean Blvd, it has great observation areas which are perfect for excellent views of sunsets.

This is a nice park with a big playground for kids. They have super clean public restrooms and staff personnel who can help you with maps and information before going into the bathroom area. Nice landscaping and layout to walk around. Its pretty clean and nice. Only thing is there is quite a bit homeless around the area and in some benches but then again its a public park.

Best kid park in Santa Monica. Tongva Park is right across from the Santa Monica Pier. The park has a nice play area for toddlers such as some slides, water spout and climbs with a set of benches to have lunch. Tongva Park is rather quite big with big open spaces of grass to run or just relax with great views.

Lovely park, clean. Great for the kid's to play at the fountain on a hot day. My kids really enjoyed!

Classic Santa Monica. Why do I say that? Everyone loves Santa Monica. Sunny, but not scorching hot. Casual, but not dirty. Trendy, but not pretentious. Tongva Park is sunny, casual, and trendy? Yes. It is giant, brand new, and has a great collection of play structures, pretty walkways, and artsy displays. Nearby public parking structures offer 1.5 hours of free parking during the daytime (then $1 for an additional hour, then $1.50 for every additional half hour). There is also plenty of seating everywhere, so tired parents can always find a place to sit and relax while watching their kids. I don't remember what this chunk of land used to be, but I'm so excited that it's been converted into such a beautiful green space.

This is a beautiful city park near the Santa Monica Pier with interesting fountains, architectural details and a few play areas for kids. It's well-staffed by city employees who maintain the grounds and bathroom areas. Because it's in a high-traffic area, I wouldn't come here by myself, but it's a fun place to come with friends. Pro Tips: - If you're in the area, they have exceptionally clean and well-kept public restrooms! - There's parking in Santa Monica Place, which is about a 5 minute walk

This is a beautiful addition to the city of Santa Monica. Long ago, when I started school at Santa Monica College, this space was just a walled up center across the street from the pier. I never thought much of it, and figured it would be turned into a condo complex of another commercial space. Today, as I was out having coffee with family, we drove by here and noticed the beautiful new park. We decided to take a stroll here after parking at one of the mall parking lots. This park is clean, ultra-modern, and has many good spots. There is a playground with jungle gyms, three slides, a a small rock-climbing spot for kids. The lighting in this park at sundown is beautiful, and accents the greenery perfectly. There are elevated areas of the park to sit down and watch the sunset. There are many pathways to just take a walk and clear your mind as well. Although there were some sketchy characters immediately outside this park, the crowd within the park were orderly and respectful. Let's keep it that way.

Outstanding new park, especially for the kids. They love the splash pad, the climbing structures and slides. Really well designed, built out and well maintained. My only complaint is that 50% of the benches are occupied by homeless people. Blah.

A hidden gem with a SPLASH PAD!! This park is amazing! My kids ask to go every weekend. It's good for older and younger children as well as nature lovers! Lots of gorgeous flowers and plants. It has a lot of zen areas to stop and take a breath and enjoy! The splash pad doesn't get too crowded as there are several other options of play for the kiddies. It is right across from the SM pier. Even if you find metered parking, I would recommend parking in the public lot (up a couple of blocks and make a right). It is MUCH cheaper, only a 3 minute walk to the park, and lots of restaurants to get some lunch before the way home.

Friday November 19, 2016 7 pm Ok so not the ideal time to walk through a park, but it just so happens that I've been eyeing this place for months and parking circumstances for another business, brought me to a spot that allowed me to check this place out. From the large bird nest-like sitting perches that surround the perimeter to the cool roller slide and water features...this park is certainly worth a stop! I can't imagine a kid or adult alike not finding a small peace of happiness in this little utopia located just a few blocks from the Santa Monica pier. We parked at a meter on the street. So I'm not sure about other parking, but do check out this place! I know the next time I'm down here with my granddaughter, we'll be stopping here to play and check out all its glory in the day light. :)

Nice park right by the beach, good to take a walk here on a nice day. They have a kids playground that looks fun. Great for families with kids or to just relax and walk around.

What a great park. The plantings are lovely, the layout of the park is so enjoyable for walking, resting, and just enjoying a respite. There is a great kids area and many area for group picnics and small intimate spaces as well as views of the ocean. Well done, who ever designed this.

I'm a lover of parks. And this newer SaMo park (just a couple years old) is a true urban oasis, a masterpiece of design. Landscape architect James Corner was the designer. He's also known for designing the High Line in NYC, such a brilliant work. Not including Ken Genser Square, across the street in front of City Hall, Tongva Park covers a bit more than 6 acres. It feels larger, though, big enough to lose yourself in as you wander the curving paths. The park is named after the Tongva tribe, the people who inhabited the SaMo area hundreds of years ago. And this park sure is an improvement from the eyesore parking lot that was there not long ago. There's even a kiddie play area, tastefully incorporated into the space. I could hear kids splashing in their own water feature on this very hot day. Yeah, I picked a day when it was a million degrees outside to explore the park. Even my feet were sweating. So I didn't hang out as long as I wanted. I headed back to my car & put the A/C on full blast. Nearby parking meters are 7 minutes for a quarter (ridiculous) but there's probably cheaper parking options if you look around. Anyway, Tongva was worth all the sweat and all the quarters. It's beautiful. And I'll be back. Gotta check it out at night because I suspect the lighting will be gorgeous. Well done, SaMo.

I love finding unique parks that are fun to photograph! Don't come here near 5-7pm on any day of the week. It's a nightmare and parking is HORRIBLE. i had to park really far away in a parking structure and walk here. I made it just in time for the sunset. They have a lot of architectural details about this park. This is the modern park!! They had beautiful well kept bathrooms.

Super easy hike loved the atmosphere and the views you get at the top. I didn't even have proper hiking shoes (all I had were boots) and my feet were fine. The trail was clean and tons of people bring their dog and go unleashed. I wish my pup can go no leash one day! The hike total was 1.5 miles and we finished it in about an hour and a half. FYI can get a bit windy up top so bringing a sweater wouldn't be a bad idea. This is during october/november though. I bet the summer it can get hot.

CLIMBING, SLIDES, AND WATER CROSSINGS?!?! WOO HOO!!! BACKGROUND: Mayor Ken Genser served and led Santa Monica for over two decades. Celebrate Ken's legacy of commitment, vision, and service as we dedicate the revitalized space in front of City Hall in his honor. In April 2010, Santa Monica City Council awarded a contract to James Corner Field Operations and its team of experts to design two parks for the Santa Monica Civic Center. At the conclusion of an intensive community participation process with input from neighborhood groups and City commissions, on October 25, 2011, design development plans for both parks and the associated streetscapes were approved by City Council. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2012 and the park it set to open by the end of 2013. STATS: Sunday -Saturday Mon 6:00 am - 11:00 pm Free parking available at the Civic Center Parking Structure, 333 Civic Center Drive. Free bike valet available on site Free entry Civilized restrooms Benches throughout Green space for picnics or a nap in the sun Lots of play space EXPERIENCE: This was the second stop for me and The Crew on our Urban Adventure in Santa Monica. Cement paths meander through the park, passing foliage and benches, water features and play spaces. Hehe!!! A bumpy slide was remnant of many of our descents from natural hiking peaks. We were kids again. Sliding down again, again and again. Many of us climbed the big yellow monkey bars where we had our group photo taken. Continuing on, we came across the water features of all water features. Spouts and sprigs of water danced while the wee ones screamed, laughed, jumped, and played. A mini rock wall, look out deck with a view of the ocean, and a weather field are some of the many things you will see and enjoy here. Even City Hall has a water feature just outside its front doors with little lily pads floating in the water. A great little park for families to spend fun quality time with their wee ones, playing picnicking in the open sunshine or just relaxing under shade trees. If you're ever in the area and like to just step away from the hustle and bustle of the city, check out this quaint park. #santamonica #parks #water #picnic #playspace

I love this park, it has a great design with places to sit and enjoy lunch with a friend or family. Beautiful urban art with fountains throughout the grounds. Fabulous old growth trees and succulent gardens incorporated into this little oasis. Close to the beach, shopping and restaurants pretty much anything that you want is near by. I find it a great place for a peaceful walk or catching up on some reading I never get to. I wish I could go on and rave that you can go here anytime and enjoy all of what I just shared. Unfortunately the homeless population in the mornings and evenings keep me away. The reality is I live in Santa Monica and am very selective about the time of day I choose to spend time here.This was a utopic idea for a park on some ones desk in city planning. Not sure why they thought this would not happen? Until something changes I will continue to enjoy this place selectively.

This pretty new park has breathed much needed life and greenery into this otherwise boring part of Santa Monica. It's within walking distance to the beach, promenade, and Main St, and welcomes kids, adults, and dogs alike. Just make sure your dog is on a leash because they will fine you if it's not (and if you're an SM resident make sure your pup has its license on!) There's a big play area for kids, as well as picnic benches and a big grassy field for all sorts of fun. I love just laying a blanket down on the periphery with a picnic and watching everyone enjoy the beautiful SM weather. We really have it great here!

Nice spacious clean park right across from the mall/pier. Just park in the mall parking structure (Free 90 mins parking) walk over. They have cute bee hive structures, water feature(it was not on when we went), long slides, and rock climbing. Too bad they don't have any swings. The play areas are padded with all weather platforms. Lots of grassy areas to enjoy a picnic or have your kids run off some energy.

Once upon a time this was a waste of space. Today, the modern landscaped "Tongva Park" is a contributor to the more family friendly culture change of Santa Monica. They could have filmed "Enchanted" here with Amy Adams, I mean, they didn't, but if there's a sequel, it's a good spot. Contemporary playground equipment includes a roller slide, a climbing dome, rubber rock climb and an impromptu fun fountain that shoots geysers of water -- any hot day kids can get their clothes and trunks wet! There's some ground light beam walkways, some more contempo fountains for decoration and a walk-up vantage point to see the ocean as well as Santa Monica Pier that's across the street. #goodtimes

I've gone back here quite a bit since the first time, and maybe it's the season, but it's much less a nap spot for the homeless these days. My toddler has fun in the play area, and the park has a nice grassy area with an ocean view to eat snacks and some beautifully landscaped paths with interesting trees and plants.