Basin Recreation

Not far from the fumes and madding crowds of Ventura Boulevard and the San Diego Freeway lies an oasis. More than just a large green rectangle on a map, the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area is the San Fernando Valley’s answer to Central Park. Where else but in this verdant basin can recreation- seekers indulge in anything from cricket to softball to bird- watching?

Water lovers can fish and boat on 26- acre Balboa Lake, which is stocked with catfish and crappies. The reclaimed water that fills the lake is provided by the basin’s Donald C. Tillman Water Recreation Plant, which treats 40 million gallons of the city’s waste water daily.

Water plays a large part in the Sepulveda Basin’s history. The 2,100- acre multiuse area has been protected and developed as the Valley’s largest free public park, but its primary purpose is flood control. Since 1941, when a three- mile dam was built at the southeast corner of what is now the recreation area, this huge green space has served as a catch basin for flood waters from higher elevations.

When torrential rain fell in the winter of 1992, the basin did exactly what it was designed to do- it flooded from the overflow of the Los Angeles River. With the longest natural soft-bottomed stretch of the river, the Sepulveda Basin is the Valley’s most important wetland area. The park’s 108- acre wildlife area and pond attract more than 200 species of birds, including Canada geese and several rare migrants.

Doubling the size of the wildlife area is also included in a $6.7- million expansion planned for the Sepulveda Basin. Additional cricket fields, concessions, landscaping and a new dog park are also included in the expansion plans.

Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area Activites

Park hours: 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Lake Balboa Park and Woodley Park: Sunrise to sunset

1. Dog park (in progress)

2. Velodrome

3. Balboa Sports Center: gymnasium, basketball, volleyball courts, softball and soccer fields, tennis courts.

4. Sod farms / cornfield

5. Lake Balboa Park: bike path, picnic areas

6. Balboa Lake: fishing, non-motorized boating

7. Balboa Golf Course

8. Encino Golf Course

9. Woodley Golf Course

10. Woodley Park: picnic areas, children’s play area, cricket fields, archery range.

11. Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant

12. Apollo 11 Model Airport: Radio- controlled model aircraft runway.

13. Wildlife pond.

14. Wildlife area.

15. Hjelte Sports Center: softball fields.

16. Sepulveda Garden Center: community garden plots, nature classes.

17. Castle Park: miniature golf, game arcade, batting cage, food concessions, roller- coaster simulator.

Whom to Call

* Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area general information: 756- 8060.

* Japanese garden tours: 756- 8166

* Picnic reservations at Balboa Lake and Woodley Park: 756- 5798.

* Ball field reservations for weekdays and Saturdays: 756- 9642; for Sundays: 783- 0738.

* Encino / Balboa golf courses: 995- 1170; Woodley Golf Course: 780- 6886.

* Pedal boat rentals: 756- 9743.

* Castle Park: 756- 9459.

* Audubon Society bird walks: 894- 9332.

Sources: I.K. Curtis Services Inc., Los Angeles Recreation and Park Department; Researched by JULIE SHEER / Los Angeles Times