Helen Keller Park

West Athens, Los Angeles County, CA

DogsOn leash (6 ft max)
Source
FeesNone listed
Source
Hours6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Source
Size
7 acres Source
Managed by
Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation

About Helen Keller Park

Helen Keller Park is a 7-acre park in South Los Angeles named after Helen Keller, known as “the first lady of courage.” She lost her sight and hearing to meningitis at 19 months old and fought against overwhelming odds to re-enter the world around her.

The park is known for creating new programs for the community. One of the most popular is its movie screenings, sponsored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles. Over seven years dozens of films have been shown, and visitors have included Nigel Lythgoe of American Idol, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Henry Winkler of Happy Days.

The park at 12521 S. Vermont Avenue also has a swimming pool, baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, civic art, group picnic shelters, and a computer lab. Concerts in the park, Toastmasters, an aquatics team, crafting, and dance and theatre arts are among its programs. Sunday has no staff coverage, and restrooms lock at 8:30 at night.

Based on Helen Keller Park official information, checked Oct 16, 2026.

Know before you go

Helen Keller Park covers 7 acres in West Athens, Los Angeles County. The county also lists baseball fields, basketball courts, community centers, computer labs, multipurpose rooms, and softball fields at Helen Keller Park. OpenStreetMap shows 2 parking areas and 1 drinking fountain.

Facilities

  • Drinking Water
  • Picnic Area
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Swimming
  • BBQ Grills

Facility details: OpenStreetMap, official park information

Helen Keller Park at a glance

PPW
  • PParking · 2
  • WDrinking water · 1

© OpenStreetMap · CPAD · About this map

Compared with nearby parks

Among the 27 other parks in this guide within 10 miles, Helen Keller Park is number 22 of 28 by size at 7 acres.

Closest places for what Helen Keller Park doesn't list:

  • Splash Pad: Alondra Community Regional Park (3.6 mi)
  • Camping: Mary M. Bethune Park (5.1 mi)
  • Fishing: Alondra Community Regional Park (3.6 mi)

How comparisons work

Rules & reservations

Official park page
  • Dogs

    At Helen Keller Park: on leash (6 ft max), under the Los Angeles County Code 17.04.410. Source

  • Fees

    The county fee schedule lists no vehicle entrance fee for Helen Keller Park; confirm with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation. Source

Map & directions

12521 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90044

1Location overview · map data © OpenStreetMap

33.917940, -118.292703Get directions

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Recreation Area1.8 miJesse Owens Community Regional Park2.2 miGeorge Washington Carver Park2.5 miTed Watkins Memorial Park3.0 miCol. Leon H. Washington Park3.9 mi

Continue exploring

Los Angeles County parks Playgrounds

Sources & verification

Last verified: Oct 15, 2026
  1. California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026aname, county, agency, access, acres
  2. LA County Parks park page (hours and description re-read in a browser)hours, description
  3. LA County Parks park page (read in a browser)official_url, address, features, facilities.playground, facilities.picnic-area, facilities.restrooms, facilities.swimming, facilities.bbq-grills
  4. LA County Parks fee schedule (vehicle entrance)unstated.fees
  5. Los Angeles County Code 17.04.410 (dogs in parks)dogs
  6. OpenStreetMap facilities and trailsfacilities.drinking-water
  7. U.S. Census Bureau place boundariescity
  8. OpenStreetMap: parking, restrooms, water, trailheads, trail lines, and bus stopsvisit
  9. Official park page (summarized in our words)narrative
  10. Official park page (introduction excerpt)intro
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