Lake Balboa, Los Angeles

Lake Balboa is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California.

It is bordered by the following Los Angeles communities: Encino to the south, Van Nuys to the east, Reseda to the west, and Northridge and North Hills to the north.

There was debate about the official recognition of Lake Balboa as a community by the city of Los Angeles. In January 2006, that the city of Los Angeles adopted a formal community naming process (City of Los Angeles Council File Number 02-0196). This debate had important implications for the official existence of many other Los Angeles communities that were created prior to January 2006. These communities include Arleta, North Hills, Porter Ranch, Valley Glen, Valley Village, West Hills, Winnetka, and many others.

History

On November 2, 2007, the City Council of Los Angeles approved a motion renaming a larger portion of Van Nuys to Lake Balboa. The new boundaries are as follows:^[1]

• I-405 from where it meets US-101 north to Saticoy Street,
• Saticoy Street west to Valjean Avenue,
• Valjean Avenue south to Vanowen Street,
• Vanowen Street west to Hayvenhurst Avenue,
• Hayvenhurst Avenue north to Saticoy Street,
• Saticoy Street west to Balboa Boulevard,
• Balboa Boulevard north to Balboa Place and then north to Roscoe Boulevard,
• Roscoe Boulevard west to Louise Avenue (south side of Roscoe Boulevard from Balboa Boulevard to Louise Avenue will remain in Northridge with the 91325 ZIP code),
• Louise Avenue south to Saticoy Street (east side of Louise Avenue from Roscoe Boulevard to Stagg Street will remain Northridge with the 91325 ZIP code),
• Saticoy Street west to White Oak Avenue,
• White Oak Avenue south to Victory Boulevard,
• Victory Boulevard east to Balboa Boulevard,
• Balboa Boulevard south to the Los Angeles River,
• The Los Angeles River southeasterly to where US-101 and I-405 meet.

These new boundaries were the compromise plan worked out with Los Angeles City Councilpersons Greig Smith (CD12) and Tony Cardenas (CD6) that kept Van Nuys Airport and the predominately industrial area north of Saticoy Street east of the airport in Van Nuys.

Economy

MGA Entertainment, a toy maker, has its headquarters in the Lake Balboa area.^[2][3]

Parks and recreation

The Anthony C. Beilenson Park (formerly Balboa Park) is an 80 acres (32 ha) recreation facility in the Sepulveda Flood Basin located in Lake Balboa.^[1][4] The only staff members at the park are lifeguards. The centerpiece of the park is the 27 acres (11 ha) Lake Balboa, filled with water from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.^[4] The park has barbecue pits, a bicycle path, a cascade, a children's play area, a fly fishing area, a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) jogging path, a lake for fishing (swimming is prohibited), a launch ramp, pedal boats, picnic pavilions and picnic tables, private boating (only boats without motors are accepted, unless the boats are for electric trolling), a remote control boating cove, and toilet facilities. Japanese cherry blossom trees are located in the park. Parking lots exist at the park^[5] The parks and recreation department dedicated a universally accessible playground, a playground designed for handicapped and non-handicapped children, at the Beilenson Park on Monday June 9, 2008.^[6]

Woodley Park in Lake Balboa is unstaffed and unlocked. The park has the Apollo 3 Flight Field, an archery range, barbecue pits, an unlighted baseball diamond, a children's play area, cricket fields, picnic tables, toilets, and a wildlife reservation area.^[1][7] In addition two pocket parks are located in Lake Balboa.^[1] The 1.74 acres (0.70 ha) Jesse Owens Mini-Park is unstaffed and unlocked. The park has toilet facilities.^[8] Louise Park, an unstaffed, unlocked pocket park, has barbecue pits, a lighted baseball diamond, unlighted outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, and picnic tables.^[9]

Government and infrastructure

Local government

The Los Angeles City Lifeguards are responsible for water safety at this recreation area.

The Los Angeles Fire Department Station 100 West Van Nuys/Lake Balboa,^[10] located in Lake Balboa, serves Lake Balboa.^[11]

The Los Angeles Police Department operates the West Valley Community Police Station in Reseda, California, serving Lake Balboa.^[12]

County, state, and federal representation

The United States Postal Service Van Nuys Post Office is located at 15701 Sherman Way in Lake Balboa.^[1][13]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

The area primary and secondary schools are operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Birmingham Community Charter High School^[14] is Lake Balboa's high school. Mulholland Middle School is Lake Balboa's middle school.^[15] Valley Alternative Magnet School^[16] is a K-12 Alternative school located next to Mulholland Middle School. There is also the Daniel Pearl Magnet High School^[17] and Independence High School, adjacent to Birmingham Community Charter High School and Valley Alternative Magnet.

Elementary schools include:

• Bassett Street Elementary School^[18]
• Cohasset Elementary School^[19]
• Gault Street Elementary School^[20]
• Stagg Street Elementary School^[21]
• Lemay Elementary School^[22]
• Anatola Elementary School

Private schools

• St. Bridget of Sweden School - K to 8th^[23]
• The Valley School, Pre-K to 8th^[24]

References

External links

• Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council