1 / 3Douglas Park
📍 Northeast, CA
Douglas Park features three reflecting pools with ducks and turtles, a children's playground, fly fishing area, and a lawn bowling green. Free entry with parking meters nearby. Restrooms are available during daylight hours.
Location is great!! There is always plenty of parking with parking meters. I love to walk the park with my Loki. There are the ponds to see the duckies and turtles!!! They are nice and calm, never seen any of the ducks or turtles try to interact with people or dogs. Lots of beautiful trees. My Loki gets happy when we come to this park when I have my doctors appointments!! He cries when I am trying to park because he’s wanting to get out of the car to roam the park!!! The park is clean and usually busy with people at the benches, laying out or just walking.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with young children who enjoy wildlife watching paired with playground time. The duck and turtle ponds are a genuine draw for toddlers and early primary-age kids. Plan to visit during daylight hours — restrooms close after dark and parking meter lit areas thin out. Supervision near the ponds is advised as the water is not clean.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,059 Google reviews
Marcella
7 months ago
“Location is great!! There is always plenty of parking with parking meters. I love to walk the park with my Loki. There are the ponds to see the duckies and turtles!!! They are nice and calm, never seen any of the ducks or turtles try to interact with people or dogs. Lots of beautiful trees. My Loki gets happy when we come to this park when I have my doctors appointments!! He cries when I am trying to park because he’s wanting to get out of the car to roam the park!!! The park is clean and usually busy with people at the benches, laying out or just walking.”
alex
8 months ago
“Nice place to enjoy the weather in Santa Monica. Small and beautiful. There are many benches and picnic tables in the park. There is also a nice playground for children. The park is clean but the water in the ponds is a bit dirty.”
Ricardo Posadas
a month ago
“This park has a relaxing atmosphere with plenty of shaded benches and ducks roaming around.”
Richard Wu
a month ago
“This is a small park right by the busy street. And the restrooms are locked after dark around 5:30ish pm. Some people need to use the restroom after dark and they may have to end up doing their business around the building, which is not nice. With a small pond and some birds that creates a small paradise for kids. But usually homeless is around it by the big tree as well. The tennis courts are bright and clean, nice place if you can get to use it, it only has 2 and usually is occupied. The streets around the park are dark at night, not sure dangerous or not, but it is difficult to walk without proper illumination.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Douglas Park in Santa Monica offers three reflecting ponds home to ducks and turtles, a children's playground, picnic tables, two lighted tennis courts, a fly fishing area, and a lawn bowling green. The clubhouse is available for private hire. The grounds are clean and well-shaded, with benches spread throughout. Restrooms close after dark.
