Rustic Canyon Park, 102-178 Latimer Rd, Santa Monica, CA 90402, US

Dedicated in memory of artist and former Santa Monica Mayor Christine Emerson Reed, this quiet oasis of green is only a few blocks away from the busy commercial district of Wilshire Blvd. With tennis courts providing a buffer between the street and the park's other features, Reed remains an attractive destination for families, teens and athletes. Amenities include a community center; the Miles Memorial Playhouse; a children's playground; the Reed Park Auditorium, which can accommodate up to 90 people; and a wide array of sports venues (the six lighted tennis courts, two basketball courts, and a court for croquet and horse shoes). Also housed on the Reed Park grounds are staff offices for youth services, and the city's Childcare, Recreation, Enrichment & Sports Together program. Though it remains open, the park is under construction. A Miles Playhouse Garden, an expanded playground, and a sustainable landscape are in the works.