Adventure Park

The inspiration

Los Angeles County bought just over 15 acres here in 1959 to build a recreation facility for the Southeast Whittier area, and the park was dedicated in May 1962¹ . It began life as Gunn Avenue Park before the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Board of Supervisors renamed it Adventure Park for its positive influence on the surrounding community¹ . In 2025 the county completed a stormwater capture system underneath the park, pairing water conservation with an upgraded park above it² .

Who's behind it

The park is run by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, which considers it one of its strongest facilities for programming and volunteers¹ . Supervisor Janice Hahn championed the stormwater project, and Parks Director Norma Edith Garcia-Gonzalez and Public Works Director Mark Pestrella have both represented the county at its milestones^2,3 .

What to order

• Ball fields and basketball: newly renovated sports fields and courts, refreshed as part of the stormwater project upgrades .²
• Fitness equipment and walking paths: new outdoor exercise stations and paths were installed with the recent improvements .^2,3
• Community programs: after-school activities, day camps, senior yoga and meal programs, teen clubs and classes in everything from folklorico dance to martial arts .¹
• Picnic setup: barbecue areas, group picnic shelters and a community garden for a relaxed afternoon .¹

What people are saying

Visitors keep coming back to the range of things to do, with reviewers praising the mix of basketball, baseball, picnic areas and exercise equipment in one place . Diners and families also single out the parking as a plus for regular visits .

Why you should try it

If you are staying anywhere near South Whittier, this is a park where a gym, sports fields, a splash pad and a full schedule of classes share the same footprint, all freshly upgraded^1,2 . It is also a working piece of water infrastructure, with 6.4 million gallons of stormwater storage hidden beneath the lawns you walk on^2,3 .