Douglas Park 🇺🇸

If you are exploring Santa Monica, California, Douglas Park offers a peaceful 10.7-acre green space packed with fascinating history and pleasant outdoors facilities. Long before it became a park, this site served as a movie studio lot and an aircraft factory for the Douglas Aircraft Company. In fact, pilot takeoffs were once hampered by large surrounding trees, forcing workers to wheel some planes directly through Santa Monica's streets before the factory moved in 1927.

Today, you can visit a beautifully transformed setting designed by architect Ed Howard, originally opened in 1933 as Padre Park and later renamed for aviation pioneer Donald Douglas. When you walk through the grounds, you will discover two tennis courts, picnic tables, a playground, a clubhouse, and three reflecting pools. The park also features a renowned lawn bowling green that serves as home to the Santa Monica Bowls Club.

Nature lovers will especially enjoy the park's expansive man-made waterscape, which holds the distinction of being the largest municipal pond in Los Angeles County. As you stroll around the water, you can spot a lively variety of ducks, turtles, and fish, making it a delightfully relaxing stop on your travel itinerary.

What to see at Douglas Park

• Stroll past Los Angeles County's largest municipal pond, home to ducks, turtles, and fish
• Discover historic grounds that once housed a movie studio lot and an aircraft factory
• Watch or play on the popular lawn bowling green, home to the Santa Monica Bowls Club
• Enjoy active recreation on two tennis courts or relax at the picnic tables and playground
• View three tranquil reflecting pools designed by park architect Ed Howard

Visiting tips

Keep an eye out for local wildlife as you stroll around the three reflecting pools and the county's largest municipal pond.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning or early afternoon

How to get there & what’s nearby

Douglas Park is easy to reach on Santa Monica’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Santa Monica travel guide.