Address: 13196 Bluff Creek Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90094
Website: Playa Vista Sports Park Page
Instagram: @playavistaca
Hours Of Operation:
8 am to 5:30 pm, 7 days a week
There's nothing quite like soccer in the City of Angels. That's why Plei has gone ahead and booked spaces at public parks across Los Angeles to provide you with more field options!
These blogs will answer all the questions that you usually ask before you head out to play some ball, like…
Is it a 6v6, 7v7, 8v8 or 9v9 field? Artificial grass or natural? What are the exact measurements? Where should I park? What public transportation can I take and where do I get off? Are there good food/drink options nearby? Are there any other cool things to do or see in the surrounding area?
Fear not: all these questions and more will be answered within each blog, so you can confidently suit up, head out and have fun under the Cali sun. 🌞
Welcome to Playa Vista Sports Park, one of 29 parks in arguably the fastest growing planned communities on the Westside of Los Angeles. Besides having a full-size, customizable turf soccer field (which we talk about in the next section of the blog), you’ll also find basketball & tennis courts, a baseball field, and a playground for the kids.
Keep reading to learn more about this field, and some important tips that you’ll want to keep in mind before you pull up. Click below to navigate to any particular section that you’re interested in! 👇
Here at The Sports Park in the Playa Vista neighborhood, you’ll find a large turf field area, officially named the John H. Henschel Field. The full length of the pitch serves as an 11v11 field, and it can also be split in half to make two (2) smaller fields for 6v6, 7v7 or 8v8 play.
You may have already noticed from the photo above, but the field lines have been marked accordingly to distinguish the three field options.
Throughout the week, the field sees plenty of use, primarily by the local youth and competitive adult clubs that play here.
Plei first hosted a pickup game at Playa Vista Sports Park on September 17, 2023, and we continue to play here today.
If you’re coming by car, you’ll be able to park in a designated lot directly in front of the field. Entrance to the parking lot is on Bluff Creek Drive. Be sure to only park in the lot parallel to the field because Playa Vista Elementary School has its own lot exclusive to faculty.
There are a number of bus stops in close proximity to Playa Vista Sports Park, so we listed them here for your convenience:
Playa Vista Dr & Bay Park Dr (Southbound)
You can also find the closest Metro Bike Share in front of Playa Vista Library, just south of the third bus stop listed above.
This will be the easiest part of your time at Playa Vista Sports Park.
Once you arrive, you can enter the John H. Henschel Field on either side of the fence facing the parking lot. The left side is closest to the elementary school, while the right side has the basketball & tennis courts, baseball field and the playground. You’ll also find public restrooms on this end, too.
There is! For starters, you can explore the entirety of Playa Vista Sports Park and stop by the tennis & basketball courts, baseball field and playground. It’s a fairly short walk but taking the Playa Vista Trail will lead you through a shaded, green area with plenty of trees.
Continuing the nature theme, just an 8 minute walk northbound from the park is the Ballona Freshwater Marsh. It’s a 26-acre coastal salt marsh & estuary with walking trails as well as parking. Most people come here to sightsee and birdwatch, so if that sounds like your kind of adventure, don’t hesitate to make your way over here.
Head two blocks north of the Sports Park and you’ll find five other parks that make up the 29 total that you’ll find in Playa Vista. They are all located within the same sector, making it easy to hop from one to another. We listed them below for your convenience.
If you came via public transit, then this last option most likely won’t interest you, but the beach is only 2 miles away. It’s just a 5 minute drive west to get to the coast, and suddenly there’s so much more to see and do.
Playa Del Rey Beach has numerous attractions, including the Del Rey Lagoon, a saltwater body of water. Feel free to also take an aesthetic walk along the Ballona Creek Bike Path. Don’t rule out getting your feet in the sand while you’re here.
There are multiple places you can park at here, but your best bets will be the following two lots:
Parking lot #1
Parking lot #2
You’re bound to get hungry after an hour or so of footy, we understand. Here are a few recommendations if you’re looking to grab something before or after you play at Playa Vista Sports Park’s fields.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (A 2-minute drive or a 10-minute walk from the Sports Park. You’ll find it on the corner of Pacific Promenade and Seabluff Drive, across the street from Concert Park.) - If you’re from California, you’ve most likely been here before. For those that aren’t familiar, it’s a coffeehouse chain most popular in the Golden State, although a few other states have locations. They serve a variety of caffeinated beverages, including its signature ice-blended options.
Sweet Fish Sushi Bar & Restaurant (Located in Playa Vista’s commercial and social center near the corner of Pacific Promenade and Seabluff Drive.) - Right next to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is our next pick. Sweet Fish is a sushi bar & restaurant that serves classic Japanese dishes that will have you wanting to come back. If you’re coming from playing a pickup game, be sure to take advantage of their takeout options. If not, feel free to dine in and enjoy their outdoor patio setting.
Mom, Please Ukrainian food (A 3-minute drive or a 13-minute walk from the Sports Park. Just take Playa Vista Drive northbound until you hit Fountain Park Drive. It’s right across the park with the same name.) - Ever had Ukrainian food before? We haven’t either, but this may be your sign to change that. Stop Mom, Please, a grocery store/restaurant that sells a wide selection of frozen Ukrainian staple dishes made from traditional recipes. That’s right, you can either buy their frozen foods to take home, or you can dine in and enjoy freshly prepared meals. You can even head to their website and order their products online.
The Sports Park at Playa Vista is a state-of-the-art seven-acre sports complex boasting a baseball field, soccer field, two basketball half-courts, two tennis courts and a playground for kids. The park is dearly loved by Playa Vista locals who come visit with their whole families every day to create unforgettable memories.
Other amenities of the park include a nature trail, picnic tables and benches, plenty of open grass spaces under shade, exercise stations, restrooms and security guards.
Thanks for reading Pitchside by Plei, a blog series highlighting the best field spaces in your city! ⚽
If you want to get familiar with other unique soccer fields in both San Bernardino and Los Angeles County, don’t hesitate to click the following links below! 👇
