Elysian Park facts for kids

Elysian Park is one of the biggest parks in Los Angeles. It covers about 600 acres (240 hectares). Most of the park is in the Elysian Park neighborhood. A small part of it is also in Echo Park. It's a great place for outdoor fun!

How the Park Started

The city officially created Elysian Park on April 5, 1886. A city engineer named George Hansen helped make this happen. At first, people thought the land wasn't very useful. Only a few other parks existed in Los Angeles back then. For a while, the land stayed wild. Later, roads, trails, and beautiful plants were added.

Some parts of Elysian Park were traded for other land. This happened when Dodger Stadium was built for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Cool Park Spots

Angels Point Viewpoint

Angels Point is a small hill inside Elysian Park. From here, you can see Dodger Stadium. You also get amazing views of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. At the top of the hill, there is a large metal sculpture. A local artist named Peter Shire created this artwork.

Chavez Ravine Arboretum

The Chavez Ravine Arboretum opened in 1893. An arboretum is like a special garden for trees. This one has over 100 different kinds of trees. These trees come from all over the world. It even has what are believed to be the oldest and largest Cape Chestnut, Kauri, and Tipu trees in the United States.

Grace E. Simons Lodge

Grace E. Simons Lodge is a building used for events. It has pretty waterfalls and rooms for parties. It is named after Grace E. Simons. She was an activist who worked hard to protect the park. She stopped plans to build a convention center on the park grounds.

Marion Harlow Memorial Grove

The Marion Harlow Memorial Grove is a small area with trees and plants. You can find it along the Elysian Park hiking trail. It's a peaceful spot to enjoy nature.

Avenue of the Palms

The Avenue of the Palms is a special road lined with palm trees. These trees were planted around the year 1895. It's a historic and beautiful part of the park.