BALBOA PARK17015 Burbank Blvd., EncinoSize: 80 acres.Facilities:...

BALBOA PARK

17015 Burbank Blvd., Encino

Size: 80 acres.

Facilities: 16 lighted tennis courts, four lighted baseball diamonds, outdoor basketball court, children’s play area, football field, handball court, picnic area, soccer field, volleyball court, roller skating and bike path.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Information: (818) 343-4143, or (818) 995-6570 (for tennis reservations).

Balboa Park makes up just a portion of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, but park Director Robert White has worked diligently for the past four years to make Balboa more than just part of the Sepulveda Basin. As a result, today the park offers dozens of sports programs for young children and an entertainers’ softball league that has more teams than almost any park in the Valley.

The softball league finished its first season in October and is made up of people in the television, movie and record industries. First place went to the team captained by Tony Danza, star of the ABC-TV sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” Numerous other big-name entertainers participated as well, White said.

“When they step foot on the field, they stop being movie stars and start being softball players,” White said. “The fans love it and the players are very professional about playing the game competitively.”

But White’s primary concern has been involving the children in the area who need a place to play sports. From November through January, White will be taking sign-ups for mini-T-ball, T-ball and youth basketball for children aged 5 to 10.

“Our tennis program is so big that we found there were many ways for adults to get involved. What we really needed was to focus some attention on the children,” White said. “The response from the community has been very positive.”