Bixby Knolls Park

Park Overview

Located on San Antonio Drive, Bixby Knolls Park offers a cozy 3.9-acre green retreat for the surrounding neighborhood. This modest community space is the local outdoor living room for Bixby Knolls residents looking to enjoy some fresh air without venturing far from home.

What's nice about this park is its residential setting - it's just quiet enough that you can actually hear yourself think, spacious enough that you won't feel crowded, and generally well-kept. It's nothing fancy, but that's part of its charm.

History

The park has roots stretching back to 1948 when the Jotham Bixby Company gifted the land while it was still under county jurisdiction. The following year, in 1949, the area was annexed by Long Beach proper.

The donation came with a few strings attached: the space had to be named "Bixby Knolls Park," the city needed to improve it right away, and they had to install a marker acknowledging where the land came from - a small price to pay for nearly four acres of green space.

Development

The wheels of progress started turning in February 1950 when Long Beach's City Council gave the thumbs-up to develop the park, with construction kicking off that June. Over the decades, the park has seen various upgrades to keep it relevant to community needs.

Amenities

The playground is the park's centerpiece, renovated in 1998 with funding from the Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Act of 1992.

If you've got little ones between 2-5 years old, they'll likely enjoy the playground's offerings, including the swings and other play equipment. However, if your kids are older, they might find themselves wanting a bit more challenge - the play area isn't exactly designed with pre-teens in mind.

Beyond the playground, the green space works well for impromptu frisbee games, picnic lunches, or simply lounging with a good book. Occasionally, you'll catch community happenings here, from family reunions to neighborhood parade gatherings.

Facilities

You'll discover restroom facilities on-site, though quality and cleanliness can vary depending on when you visit.

The park welcomes visitors daily from 6AM to 10PM. Note that there are no fences or gates surrounding the perimeter, so the boundaries between park and neighborhood flow rather seamlessly.