El Dorado Park, Long Beach, California facts for kids
The El Dorado Park neighborhood is in Long Beach, California. It sits right next to the big El Dorado Regional Park. This area is surrounded by other cities like Lakewood and Los Alamitos. A major freeway and the park itself make the El Dorado Park neighborhood feel like its own special place.
The park helps protect homes from floods. It is located near the San Gabriel River. Some undeveloped land is also set to become part of the park's Nature Center. The city of Long Beach bought the land for the park in 1968. The different hills and valleys in the park were created from soil. This soil was moved when the San Gabriel Freeway was built.
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Discover El Dorado Regional Park
El Dorado Regional Park is a huge park with lots to do!
Park Hours and Cost:
- The park is open from 7 AM until dusk.
- It is closed on Christmas Day.
- There is a small fee per vehicle to enter.
- Monday - Thursday: $5.00
- Friday: $6.00
- Saturday - Sunday: $7.00
- Holidays: $8.00
- You can also buy an annual pass for $60.00. Seniors and people with disabilities pay $35.00.
This large park has many cool features. You can find a community center and sports courts for basketball and volleyball. There are also fields for softball and soccer. The park has a skate park and places for picnics. You can even go cross-country running or play disc golf. There is a tennis center and an 18-hole golf course. Kids will love the playgrounds and duck ponds.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
El Dorado Park offers many activities for everyone:
- A disc golf course for a fun game.
- An outdoor archery range to practice your aim.
- Fields for baseball, softball, soccer, and courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball.
- A skate park and a roller hockey court.
- A physical fitness course with 12 stations.
- Areas for barbecue and picnics.
- Playgrounds for younger visitors.
- Clean restrooms.
- Three fishing lakes and a fishing pond.
- An airfield for remote control planes.
- An area for radio-controlled model sailboats.
- You can rent pedal boats for fun on the water.
- The El Dorado Express train offers rides for kids and adults (extra cost).
- A 100-acre nature center to explore wildlife.
Go Fishing!
If you are 16 or older, you need a fishing license to fish here. Make sure to follow all fishing rules! Here are some of the fish you might catch:
- Largemouth Bass - You can keep up to 5 fish. It's best to release them back into the lake gently. The biggest one caught here was 13.4 pounds!
- Bluegill - You can keep up to 25.
- Crappie - You can keep up to 25.
- Redear Sunfish - You can keep up to 25.
- Common Carp - No specific limit mentioned.
- Catfish (These are added to the lake) - No limit.
- Trout (These are added to the lake) - You can keep up to 5.
Programs and Classes
The park offers different programs:
- Recreation for young people.
- A teen center.
- Classes for adults.
- A senior center.
Bicycle Paths
Two popular bike paths cross through the area. These are the Coyote Creek Bicycle Path and the San Gabriel River Bicycle Path. A 4-mile bike path also runs through El Dorado Regional Park. It connects to the San Gabriel River Bike Trail in several spots.
Long Beach Police Academy
The Long Beach Police Department has a police academy. It is located at the north end of the park. This academy helps train new police officers. It also has a pistol range for practice.
Olympic History at the Park
Did you know El Dorado Park was part of the 1984 Summer Olympics? In 1984, the Olympics were held in nearby Los Angeles. The park was chosen as the place for the archery competitions. A special temporary area was set up just for this event.
Camp Fire Campground
The Camp Fire organization runs a 7-acre camping area. It is at the north end of the park. This facility has a challenge course with rock walls and ropes courses. Camp Fire leases this land from the city of Long Beach.
Images for kids
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Walking trail in the El Dorado Nature Center
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Pond in the Nature Center
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