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Mapping 13 of the tiniest parks tucked around Los Angeles

A guide to the city's smallest urban retreats

By Adrian Glick Kudler and Elijah Chiland Updated
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By Adrian Glick Kudler and Elijah Chiland Updated
9 comments / new

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Los Angeles has some of the largest urban parks in America, and that's cool. But some days you don't want to wander around miles of trails or even play any tennis, you just wanna sit on a patch of green and chill or eat your sandwich or whatever. Tiny parks are so especially great in Los Angeles because it's mostly known for its expanses of asphalt; the city's recent efforts to scatter more pocket parks, parklets, and other small green spaces around the region are helping make LA a little more walkable and a little more livable. Here are 13 of the tiniest, most interesting little parks around Los Angeles:

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Rosewood Gardens

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Rosewood Gardens is LA's very tiniest park at just 145 square feet. The little lot was fixed up in 1997 to help the then-declining Fairfax area.

North Fairfax Avenue & Rosewood Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Laurel and Hardy Park

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Also known as Del Monte Triangle, this tiny park is famous for its adjacent Music Box Stairs, where in 1932, comedic duo Laurel & Hardy filmed their most famous routine.. The little park occupies just about a third of an acre.

3016 Del Monte Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90026

York Boulevard Parklet

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LA's People St program has created several parklets throughout the city, and this Reservoir Dogs- inspired mini park was the first to open back in 2013. Sadly (though really also sort of predictably), a hit and run driver put the parklet temporarily out of commission last year.

5040 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Spring Street Parklets

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Spring Street has not one, but two hip little parklets, between Fifth and Seventh.The parking spaces-turned public places are meant to encourage pedestrian activity, offering tired walkers the chance to sit down and relax for a bit.

639 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Denker and Torrance Pocket Park

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This miniscule Harbor Gateway park has a most unusual backstory. City officials had the park built in 2013 to force 33 sex offenders out of a nearby apartment building. It's about .15 acres.

1490 West Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90501

Huntington Drive Parklet

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A little larger than the York Boulevard parklet, this small public space in El Sereno was designed by local residents and features tables and chairs perfect for enjoying some of the tacos sold nearby.

4910 Huntington Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90032

Gramercy Park

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The South LA neighborhood of Gramercy Park is centered around this teeny bean-shaped park, measuring in at about .06 acres.

2442 Gramercy Park, Los Angeles, CA 90018

Cataluna Square

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This grassy little park in fancy Palos Verdes Estates occupies just about a quarter of an acre in a residential neighborhood.

1601 Cataluna Place, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

Hoover-Gage Park

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This South LA mini park on the edge of a busy intersection measures in at about a third of an acre. It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it does include a nice picnic table and play structure.

South Hoover Street & West Gage Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90044

Vermont Triangle Park

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Don't let the LA haters hear about how we have parks on median islands, ok? This one opened in 2008, but now there's some debate about whether it really constitutes a park. The East Hollywood Business Improvement District wants to remove the seating, lighting, and crosswalks leading to the median in order to prevent homeless residents from using it as a resting place.

North Vermont Avenue & Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Motor Ave Parklets

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The most recent parklets to come on the scene, these two former parking spaces in Palms were converted into verdant sitting areas and opened in August.

Los Angeles, CA

Carthay "Pioneer" statue

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Another park that's really more of a traffic median, this little triangle of green space in Carthay—one of LA's tiniest neighborhoods—is home to a nearly century-old statue that celebrates the pioneering spirit of those who came to California during the 1849 gold rush.

6295 S San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Avalon & Gage Park

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This colorful South LA park opened in 2015. At just a third of an acre, it includes a playground, fitness equipment, benches, and a walking path.

6301 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90003

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Rosewood Gardens

North Fairfax Avenue & Rosewood Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Rosewood Gardens is LA's very tiniest park at just 145 square feet. The little lot was fixed up in 1997 to help the then-declining Fairfax area.

North Fairfax Avenue & Rosewood Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Laurel and Hardy Park

3016 Del Monte Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Also known as Del Monte Triangle, this tiny park is famous for its adjacent Music Box Stairs, where in 1932, comedic duo Laurel & Hardy filmed their most famous routine.. The little park occupies just about a third of an acre.

3016 Del Monte Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90026

York Boulevard Parklet

5040 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90042

LA's People St program has created several parklets throughout the city, and this Reservoir Dogs- inspired mini park was the first to open back in 2013. Sadly (though really also sort of predictably), a hit and run driver put the parklet temporarily out of commission last year.

5040 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Spring Street Parklets

639 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Spring Street has not one, but two hip little parklets, between Fifth and Seventh.The parking spaces-turned public places are meant to encourage pedestrian activity, offering tired walkers the chance to sit down and relax for a bit.

639 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Denker and Torrance Pocket Park

1490 West Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90501

This miniscule Harbor Gateway park has a most unusual backstory. City officials had the park built in 2013 to force 33 sex offenders out of a nearby apartment building. It's about .15 acres.

1490 West Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90501

Huntington Drive Parklet

4910 Huntington Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90032

A little larger than the York Boulevard parklet, this small public space in El Sereno was designed by local residents and features tables and chairs perfect for enjoying some of the tacos sold nearby.

4910 Huntington Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90032

Gramercy Park

2442 Gramercy Park, Los Angeles, CA 90018

The South LA neighborhood of Gramercy Park is centered around this teeny bean-shaped park, measuring in at about .06 acres.

2442 Gramercy Park, Los Angeles, CA 90018

Cataluna Square

1601 Cataluna Place, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

This grassy little park in fancy Palos Verdes Estates occupies just about a quarter of an acre in a residential neighborhood.

1601 Cataluna Place, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

Hoover-Gage Park

South Hoover Street & West Gage Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90044

This South LA mini park on the edge of a busy intersection measures in at about a third of an acre. It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it does include a nice picnic table and play structure.

South Hoover Street & West Gage Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90044

Vermont Triangle Park

North Vermont Avenue & Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Don't let the LA haters hear about how we have parks on median islands, ok? This one opened in 2008, but now there's some debate about whether it really constitutes a park. The East Hollywood Business Improvement District wants to remove the seating, lighting, and crosswalks leading to the median in order to prevent homeless residents from using it as a resting place.

North Vermont Avenue & Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Motor Ave Parklets

Los Angeles, CA

The most recent parklets to come on the scene, these two former parking spaces in Palms were converted into verdant sitting areas and opened in August.

Los Angeles, CA

Carthay "Pioneer" statue

6295 S San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Another park that's really more of a traffic median, this little triangle of green space in Carthay—one of LA's tiniest neighborhoods—is home to a nearly century-old statue that celebrates the pioneering spirit of those who came to California during the 1849 gold rush.

6295 S San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Avalon & Gage Park

6301 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90003

This colorful South LA park opened in 2015. At just a third of an acre, it includes a playground, fitness equipment, benches, and a walking path.

6301 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90003