City Terrace Park

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Parks

California

Nearby: Pinetree Park Ramona Gardens Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

City Terrace Park is a popular park located in the City Terrace neighborhood of East Los Angeles, California.

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Summary

The park offers a great space for outdoor recreation and relaxation, making it an ideal destination for families, couples, and nature lovers.

One of the main reasons to visit City Terrace Park is to enjoy its beautiful outdoor scenery. The park boasts lush greenery, walking paths, and a large lake that is home to turtles and other aquatic life. Visitors can also enjoy various recreational activities such as picnicking, fishing, basketball, and soccer.

There are several interesting points of interest to see in City Terrace Park. These include the historic WPA-built buildings, the Japanese garden, the Maizeland sculpture, and the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre.

One interesting fact about City Terrace Park is that it was once a landfill site before it was transformed into a beautiful park. Another interesting fact is that it was once home to the Big Red Car, a train that ran through Griffith Park from 1901 to 1969.

The best time of year to visit City Terrace Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and sunny. This is also when the park is at its most beautiful, with flowers blooming and the lake at its fullest. However, visitors can enjoy the park year-round, as it is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Overall, City Terrace Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to enjoy the natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities available in East Los Angeles.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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