Whittier Narrows Recreation
750 S. Santa Anita Ave.
South El Monte, CA 91733
Cradled between the San Jose Hills and the Montebello Hills, Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is a scenic spot for your next corporate event. Located in the heart of Los Angeles County, this park totals 1,492 acres. It’s one of LA’s largest recreation areas, and its huge expanse is filled with experiences and activities for your team to enjoy.
This park plays host to a mild climate and temperatures, owing to the fact that it’s close enough to the coastline to bring in cool air. Its lakes onsite also help to bring temperatures down, even in the sunny summer.
This urban gem offers a variety of sports courts, outdoor activities, and even an art gallery. If you’re planning an excursion, company picnic, or employee appreciation event in the San Gabriel Valley, there’s no better place than Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.
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About Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
One of the best spots for company picnics in LA County, Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is filled with excitement and engagement for any visitors. This massive park is home to the gorgeous Legg Lake, an extremely popular attraction perfect for pedal boating or paddleboarding with your team. This lake is across the freeway from the park’s sports-centric section. If you’re planning on visiting the lake during your event, shuttles running across this divide will make it much easier.
One of the best things about this park is its capacity. No matter the size of your event, Whittier Narrows offers reservations to match it. In reserving multiple spots, the number of attendees can go as large as you can imagine. This park is perfect for any event hosting 500 or more people.
At a Glance
It also offers paved hiking and biking trails, an equestrian center, and a nature center. And that’s not all: it boasts 26 types of sports amenities, covering a wide range of popular activities. Due to this, there’s no better place in the region for a field day centered team building event.
The park is split into several Special Events Areas, all available for reservation. Each one contains certain amenities and unique offerings. These areas can all support a large headcount and still have plenty of space for catering setup, activities and games, and more.
Whittier Narrows Recreation Area’s multiple special events areas each contain different parts of the park’s amenities. Special Events Areas A and B, in the north, contain most of the park’s sports complexes. Pomona Freeway serves as a divider between the north and south sections of the park. To the south, Special Events Areas C and D contain a clay shooting range and Legg Lake, respectively.
We typically reserve space in the upper portions of the park, where there are not only many sports, but plenty of open, flat space, as well.
Amenities Include:
- Plenty of Shade Trees
- Open, Grassy Areas Suitable for Games & Entertainment
- Sheltered Picnic Areas
- Restrooms Onsite
- Inflatables Allowed
- Amplified Sound Allowed
- Catering Permitted
- On the Intersection of the Freeways
- Horseback Riding
- Paddleboarding
- Outdoor Stage
- Sports Complexes
- Lakes
- Ample Parking
What Our Company Picnics Look Like
Over 7,000 employees and their families joined in on over 42 games and activities including Las Marionetas En Desfile headliner and a fun costume contest. 10 airbrush artists added to the fun, with catrina makeup. 14 buffet stations made quick work of hungry guests and 8 shuttles ran non stop (to accommodate the limited parking for such a large group).
What to Know:
If you’re planning a sports tournament at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area with teeball or baseball, we recommend booking in advance or outside of baseball season. The park’s big arena is an incredibly popular spot to host games, and it’s in heavy demand.
Peak Seasons
Peak seasons at Whittier Narrows are fall, spring, and summer. We recommend booking in advance, to ensure the park is reservable at your chosen date.
Group Sizes & Recommended Event Time
Group sizes at this park can go upwards of thousands. Owing to its large size, your limits are boundless. Rental hours you should consider change according to your guest size. If you have a smaller group, a minimum of 3 hours is recommended. If your group is large, say 1000 or more, we recommend at least 5 hours. We also suggest discussing this with your event planner, as they will be able to recommend the best for your specific event.
Reservations
Event insurance is required at Whittier Narrows, however, if you’re partnering with us, your event planner will handle insurance. So, too, will we take care of reservations (booking, permits, etc.).
This park is good for families, disability accessible in most areas, and has ample restroom and parking accommodations.
Alcohol, catering, onsite cooking, inflatables are all allowed. Rides are on a case-by-case basis, so speak to an event manager about them. The park has onsite water, but no onsite power, so your event planner will bring in generators to power your event. Parking at the park is paid.
Getting There
Located conveniently off of the 60 Freeway, Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is easy to access from across Los Angeles. Once you’re approaching it from the Freeway, follow exit signs to Santa Anita exit. Once you get off onto Santa Anita Avenue, you’ll follow the driveway into the park proper. The park’s entry is by Legg Lake, and the driveway path leads you to all other event areas. We typically use the Meadows section of Event Area D, which is a private, gated area near the entrance. To get here, you’ll follow Santa Anita Avenue through the park’s entrance and, driving north, find the parking lot and the event area’s gates.
We recommend using a GPS service to help you navigate your way to the park. Thankfully, this park is very accessible and easy to locate. If you have any questions before your picnic, feel free to speak with your event coordinator about directions.
Experiences
Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is hugely popular in part due to the sheer amount of sports amenities it offers. This park is ideal for field day type outdoor events or team building days out.
This is one of LA’s best excursion spots due to its many possibilities. The hiking trails and the lakefront activities make it a choice spot for an adventurous team.
Whittier Narrows also contains a gorgeous community garden on its north side. If you’re hosting a smaller event, consider spending some time before the event volunteering here as a charitable team building experience. Once your group is finished volunteering, they can shop for fresh, locally-grown produce. The garden is seasonally stocked, so depending on the time of year you visit, you’ll find something different.
The park, with its many paved pathways and walking trails, is ideal for fundraiser walks and runs. If you’re planning to fundraise at your event, this park is perfect for you.
If you’re planning a family-centered company picnic, each Special Events Area hosts playgrounds, and our agency can bring in plenty of inflatables and activities for all ages.
Nearby
Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is close to several hotels, and located at the conjunction of two major freeways. Its convenient location is ideal for any LA company event. Here are a few of the nearby hotels:
If Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is not available, the nearest comparable park is Elysian Park in Los Angeles, which is almost 15 miles away. Elysian Park is also massive, with space to support an equally large company picnic, and has plenty of sports amenities and natural attractions. If you’re planning a huge company picnic, we recommend booking Whittier Narrows in advance to ensure it can be secured.
Planning Your Whittier Narrows Event
Working with a local event planning agency means you get our knowledge of the fine details. So does working with an experienced corporate event company mean you get the value from years of planning exceptional corporate events. We know the ins and outs of planning events at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area and can handle booking, permits, and registration needed for your event here.
Our team can coordinate exciting experiences for your team, from BMX races to the hugest company picnics, filled with games and activities. Whether you’re looking for a massive team building event or an intimate employee appreciation lunch, we’ve got you covered. See what we can do for you in our gallery.
Contact us today by filling out the form below. You’ll connect with an event planner who can make your ideas a reality. With us at your side, you can kick back and enjoy your special day.
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