7.2 out of 10

Elysian Park

Ranked 24th best neighborhood in Los Angeles
34.0829983880458 -118.238957790548
Great for
  • Childcare
  • Clean & Green
  • Internet Access
  • Medical Facilities
  • Neighborly Spirit
Not great for
  • Nightlife
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+

Reviews

2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 2/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Lots of Games Going on Here"

Elysian Park is home to Dodgers Stadium. Not being a baseball fan, I have only been here once—way back in the 80’s for a daytime Depeche Mode concert (Pet Shop Boys opened up for them). It’s a huge stadium that seems like it would be well-suited to a sporting event, especially, a baseball game. It is not, unfortunately, a very good stadium acoustically. Depeche Mode didn’t carry particularly well in that venue. Not to mention the fact that they strike me as the kind of band that is best suited for the nighttime.

Other than the stadium, the vast majority of this neighborhood is made up of the parking lot for the stadium and the park and reservoir that give the neighborhood its name. In fact, like Griffith Park, Elysian Park would just be a park if it were not for the crescent swath of this neighborhood that extends over the Golden State Freeway to the east, to the border of Glassell.

This stretch is mostly made up of nicely kept smaller homes, like small mission style homes and tiny Ranch homes, much like Atwater Village to the north. The residents here are largely immigrants from China and Mexico, and the neighborhood is largely working class.

The parks could be nice. During the day there are a fair number of the young families from nearby Glassell (a hotspot for young families) bringing their kids out to the play area. There are also jogging trails in some portions of the park that are well used and even some good equestrian trails. Unfortunately, the scene is quite different at nighttime, as anyone who has ventured along the less well-trodden trails will tell you. These areas of the park are dirty, filled with beer bottles, general garbage and used condoms and wrappers. Apparently the park is used as a motel by gay males. (A year or two ago there was a big news story about the return of 1970’s style cruising going on in the parks.) Another community that enjoys the park as well are homeless people. They set up camp there, have little fires to warm themselves and often leave their sets of garbage as well.

This neighborhood is generally considered to be fairly dangerous. Often ranked as one of the top ten most crime ridden in terms of property crime and having a pretty bad rating due to the number of assaults reported from this area relative to the meager population. There have not been any murders in this neighborhood in four years and though I would definitely not feel safe taking a hike by myself in the park here, there have not been any rapes reported in the last six months (all I could find statistics for).

That said, I think it has a ways to go before I would have a midnight picnic here. Then again, I can’t think of too many big parks where I would feel completely safe out at night.
Pros
  • Dodgers Stadium
  • Good Kids Play Area
  • Nice Views
  • Secluded
Cons
  • Homeless Problem
  • Garbage
  • Scary at night
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
2yrs+

"LA's Reprieve"

This is not only rated the #1 area of LA by StreetAdvisor, but by visitors and residents who have experienced what Elysian Park has to offer. Nearly 15 miles from the famous Dodger Stadium, Elysian Park is the oldest park in the area and through the years many members of the community, government, and envirionmental-gurus have come together restore and fund this beautiful area of Los Angeles.

It's a pleasure and a treat to be able to forget about the fact that you're in a busy and metropolitan area like LA, and come here to enjoy the peace and serenity. You'll be able to step out of your usual routine and enjoy this restored area.

Now, this is still LA so I don't recommend walking alone at night or dusk but overall, its a beautiful area that remains a nice reprieve from the everyday LA lifestyle.
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
2yrs+

"Why don't more people come here??"

Elysian Park is the oldest and second largest park in Los Angeles. And, we have fought the good fight to keep this park a number of times so it's crazy that hardly anyone is ever there. The park borders Dodger Stadium and Echo Park (the neighborhood, not the park). The surrounding neighborhoods aren't the greatest in Los Angeles, but they are quaint and definitely up and coming.
The park, itself, has some of the best views in the city. Its a great place to bring pets, kids, picnic baskets, you name it. It's not nearly as crowded as Echo or Griffith Parks and the serenity of the place is extraordinary considering the location of the park: it's right in the middle of the city with all of the major freeways at its borders. Anyone who lives around this park can attest to what a lovely escape it provides for all of the surrounding noise and traffic.
If you like to hike, take this place any day over Laurel or Fryman canyon. Fryman's hikes are so crowded that it has become a joke; and the Elysian Park hills show views all across the city and down into Dodger Stadium which is kind of cool.
Elysian Park also houses the Los Angeles Police Academy -- which is really beautiful, believe it or not.
Pros
  • Beautiful
  • Secluded
Cons
  • Scary at night
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Country Lovers

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Unranked Streets in Elysian Park

Coronel St

3.5/5
"the dogers' home"
34.0676612225862 -118.241433696535
"Bring the whole family to the end of this road."
34.072521012075 -118.246072926518

Riverside Dr

3.5/5
"Home of the major studios"
34.0881654484671 -118.235067288146
"Incredibly beautiful drive through Elysian Park."
34.0827172280286 -118.234477597354

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