Explore Paramount through three distinct themes: the Los Angeles River Trail, specific park amenities, and local history. To plan your trip, first consider whether you want to focus on the river, outdoor activities, or historic sites.
River Trail and Park Amenities
The section of the Los Angeles River Trail managed by Los Angeles County runs through South Gate, Paramount, and Long Beach. The route passes through sections of concrete channel and more natural sections, and ends about three miles from the Pacific Ocean. There are access points along much of the trail. The route therefore offers a clear connection to the river and different types of sections that can be considered separately when planning.
Dills Park is located along the river. It has paths for walking, jogging, and cycling, a playground, basketball courts, lawns, and picnic tables; it also provides access to the Los Angeles River. The park also has a 1.2-mile nature trail and fitness stations throughout the grounds. At the southern end is a 0.2-mile running track. This shorter track and the longer nature trail are two distinct ways to spend time in the park. The details about the paths can be combined with the other amenities without treating the different activities as interchangeable.
Other parks have their own highlights: Paramount Park has a 50-meter swimming pool, Progress Park has two baseball fields for Little League games, and Spane Park has an amphitheater. If you are planning time outdoors, these specific features can help you distinguish the parks by your interests rather than treating them as interchangeable green spaces.
The Hay Tree, Regional History, and Art
The Hay Tree still stands today and was designated California Registered Historical Landmark No. 1038 in 2004. The villages of Hynes and Clearwater were centers of the dairy industry in Southern California in the first half of the 20th century and were known as “The Milk Shed of Los Angeles” and “The World’s Largest Hay Market.” The two names refer to different aspects of this historical economic context.
A June 4, 2020 entry in the city’s Outdoor Art Gallery listed three sculptures and their locations: “Modified Box” by H. L. Pastorius at Paramount Park, 14400 Paramount Blvd.; “Origami Pony” by Kevin Box at Progress Park, 15500 Downey Ave.; and “9 X 9 X 9,” also by H. L. Pastorius, at Spane Park, 14400 Gundry Ave. The date places these details in context and makes the listed works and artists another aspect of local history.
Getting Around and Planning Your Stay
Paramount in Motion is a mobility program run by the City of Paramount. It works with Fiesta Taxi, GoGo Grandparent, Long Beach Transit, and Metro Los Angeles to improve local and regional mobility. Because partner details may change, check the latest program and partner information before arranging a specific trip.
To plan your days in Paramount, you can organize the options by focus: river route, park activities, or local history. If you are looking for hotels, first decide which of these interests will shape your trip and how much time you want to set aside for them.
Discover more destinations: Alhambra, Santa Fe Springs, Glendale, Inglewood, Rosemead, Montebello, Commerce, Pasadena.
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