Ocean View Bootcamp

This is my peaceful little slice of zen in exhilarating LA. Love to walk the pups to this area and catch the sunset — really completes a good day.
It has never been too crowded or busy for me to enjoy the serenity of the ocean breeze and all of the sights and sounds and senses to absorb. I come along a lot of small groups with a boomboxes and conversation going, and lots of nap takers under the sun during the day. Plenty of green, open area for exercise and leisure — with, of course, the palm tree lined Pacific right in front of you.
There are food and restroom facilities near by and plenty of affordable parking options off Main if you’re driving in, play areas for little ones, benches for picnics — something for everyone.
I’m not sure how a park surrounded by shopping and festivals and so many attractions remains so calm, but I’m very happy it does.

If you love views of the mighty sun setting over the Pacific burning up the clouds over the horizon, this is a great place to view it from. Just imaging the typical 70 degree weather, cool breeze, the sun lighting up the clouds into shades of burnt orange and magenta and as you are taking all this in while gently strolling through this park, you step on something soft, perhaps a banana peel, but the stench and a quick look down reveals that yes, it is dog poop. Puts a bit of a damper on the lovely sunset experience. If you go watch where you’re stepping. And if you bring your dog, careful if you let your little buddy off the leash. Animal control often give citations.

Wonderful to walk from the congestion and overcrowding of Venice across the border into Santa Monica and see this park. Nothing says more about the difference between LA and SM than that border. Well designed and maintained with different areas for different users. Great children’s playground, nice basketball court, tennis courts, rolling hills for kids to play on and open grass to toss a frisbee on. Really excellent urban park.

I really like this place. It’s always really clean and quiet. That is unless a movie is being shot there. When it’s a hundred and ten in the shade, it’s always got a nice cool breeze blowing through.

Recently checked this park out after the LA Marathon and noticed how green the grass was the beautiful view of the ocean from the park. The city has done a great job in keeping this park clean. Though some parts are still under construction, it means they are making efforts to improve on this park. The grass was very soft with plenty of palm trees around making it more appealing. There’s a nice bike route next to the park as well as a playground for kids. Only thing is parking at this place. The spots are really tight so plan on parking further if you don’t want your car dinged. Otherwise, great park to go to if you plan on visiting the beach.

I can’t comment much on the grassy area or basketball/​tennis courts because we were only at the kids area.
I like how Santa Monica puts a lot of money and thought into their parks with soft ground and lots of options for kids both big and small.
This one had swings, a «ship» area, sandbox and a table see saw. It’s spacious and there’s enough things to do even if it’s crowded.
The biggest setback is the lack of parking near (unless you want to pay for beach parking) and the fact that if you don’t go to the beach near this area you wouldn’t know it existed.

Tennis review only: Dirty, run-​down. Don’t come here unless you want to be urinated on by homeless — yes this happened while we were playing tennis. Stay away from uneven tennis courts. Play at Clover, Stoner or Memorial for real tennis.

It’s a park. Parks are the best. Would you prefer a mcdonalds is here? No. No matter how much tax revenue it brought in. Bless California

NICE & CLEAN! (compared to Venice)
This place is for the clean ppl. :) Venice is for the yuppies and uppies. (not to offend anyone b/​c I mean it in the nicest way possible). I can go either way but I prefer to stroll around here or manhattan beach. wait or malibu or hermosa. Venice is when I’m feeling a little bit more daring and if I feel like to get solicitated at the beach.
Good for a morning jog or just to walk around at sunset. :) Will be back.

One of my favorite parts of living in Santa Monica — tennis by the beach. Having lived in Manhattan and paying ridiculously hourly prices for shitty indoor courts, it doesn’t get any better. Gorgeous, well-​maintained courts, walking distance from my apartment and surrounded by palm trees and ocean air, its the perfect form of exercise.

I come down here to sit at one of the tables near the sand to eat my Mariscos shrimp burrito and watch the rollerbladers and bicyclists with my coworkers at lunch. Love it.

Probably the most solid public tennis courts in Santa Monica. mainly cuz you can hit the beach right before or after. If it’s non-​summer you need to book the courts on weekends for $ 3/​person. otherwise, it’s first come first serve. During the summer, you must book 7 days a week. Players of all ages play here. good place to pick up a tennis partner if you go a few times. saw Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez playing there a few weeks ago

This park was almost my selection for my next milestone review.
Because it’s the very first park I ever set foot in, in LA. Story coming up in a sec… hahaha… you knew that…
Ocean View Park is just south of Ocean Ave., where it deadends at the ocean. Lotsa oceans here! The words «Ocean View Santa Monica» are spelled out in foliage, in sculpted hedges, all along the west side of the park grounds. That did not exist several years ago & it’s awesome, eye-​catching. Better than a wooden sign by far.
This is not a huge park, area-​wise. It’s sandwiched in among the Sea Colony condos, and there are entrances off Barnard Way, and also 2 paths to enter on from the east, from Pacific/​Neilson Way.
There’s a basketball court, and a big outdoor tennis facility that is used for tournaments. I didn’t count the number of courts, but there are several. (See photos)
My fave attraction in this park is the hill surrounded by a winding sidewalk. You circle the hill, around and around, as the view gets better and better… until you reach the top. Your reward is a sweeping view of the beach across the street, one of my favorite wide beaches in LA. (See my photos.)
Here’s where my story begins:
I came to LA on a plane with 3 suitcases, some 8 years ago, never having been here before in my life, not knowing a soul. I was attracted to the promise of a lengthy bike path that ran along the coast, as well as an endless summer-​type of lifestyle.
I checked into the Cadillac Hotel on Venice Beach, lived there for several weeks before renting an apt. a few doors away.
But on my first day in LA I headed for the sand on Venice Beach.
On my second day I began to explore the surrounding area, and ended up here, in Ocean View Park, a couple blocks to the north of my hotel. I walked up the winding sidewalk to the top of the grassy hill and threw down my towel to sunbathe a little.
Within 5 minutes I was covered from head to toe… with biting ants. Holy crap I will never forget! I was screaming and jumping around in my bathing suit on top of the hill, putting on a show for everybody within a two-​block radius.
It must have looked like the dance of a crazy person.
Being LA, and being that close to Venice Beach, no one paid all that much attention.
I was amazed. Back in the Midwest, they would have called the cops.
It was the beginning of my love affair with this remarkable free-​spirited city.
And it all began in a park.