6. Point of Interest
Downtown Manhattan Beach is home to great restaurants featuring acclaimed and awarded Chefs. Some of the best places to eat are: Darren’s, Fishing With Dynamite, Little Sister, Love & Salt, MB Post, The Strand House (with the best ocean view), The Arthur J’s and Fonzs. Downtown also boasts specialty boutiques, retailers, spas and hotels.
Every week, the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market offers healthy eating choices from local farms and vendors. Exhibitors not only sell their products, but also provide cooking tips and educate the community on healthy eating, sustainability, and caring for the environment.
The city has 11 parks managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. These recreational spaces are: Manhattan Heights Park, Polliwog Park, Live Oak Park, Sand Dune Park, Marine Avenue Park, Marine Sports Complex, and Larsson Street Parquette, 8th Street Parquette, Bruce’s Beach, Veterans Parkway and Manhattan Village Fields. The largest and most popular is located on Manhattan Beach Boulevard, two blocks west of Aviation Boulevard: the Polliwog Park. This facility boasts a small lake, an open-air concert amphitheater, playground equipment, picnic tables, restrooms, a fenced dog exercise area, and it is also the site of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society Red Cottage (which is home to the city’s collection of historical artifacts) This institution offers after school programs and summer camps for youth and teens.
Manhattan Heights Park, located across the street from Polliwog Park, is also a popular site for social, informal family gatherings. The picnic facilities accommodate up to 32 people.
This large park (of almost four acres) includes two tennis courts, two paddle tennis courts, a small children’s play area, a basketball court (which can be converted into a mini-basketball court), a large lighted athletic field and community center, a volleyball court, a horseshoe court, restrooms and drinking fountains.
Marine Avenue Park, situated west of Aviation Boulevard on Marine, offers residents and visitors several lighted ball fields, basketball courts, and an indoor racket ball facility.
Live Oak Park in the downtown area has ball fields, playground equipment, tennis courts and picnic tables. For over 50 years, this has been the site of the annual Hometown Fair, where community residents enjoy food, beverages, live music, games and booths to raise funds for local causes.
The “Green Belt” also known as “Veteran’s Parkway” is a pedestrian-friendly walkway, very popular among runners and dog-walkers. The path located near downtown Manhattan Beach, runs adjacent to Valley Drive and Ardmore Avenue.
The Strand at the eastern edge of the beach, features restrooms, shower facilities, lifeguard stations, as well as a concrete bike path and a separate 2.1 mile walkway (reserved for pedestrians). The bikeway extends north to Santa Monica and south to Palos Verdes.
The Pier and El Porto are two popular spots among surfers.
Manhattan Beach also has:
• 2 community centers: Joslyn Community Center and Manhattan Heights Community Center.
• 18 ball fields: 2 fields at Live Oak Park, 2 fields at Marine Avenue Park, 2 fields at Manhattan Beach Middle School, 2 fields Pacific Elementary School, 2 fields at Mira Costa High School, and one field each at Polliwog Park, Manhattan Heights Park, Marine Sports Complex, Manhattan Village, Meadows Elementary School, Grand View Elementary School, Robinson Elementary School, and Penne amp Elementary School.
• 18 tennis courts: 10 tennis courts at Mira Costa High School, 6 tennis courts and a table tennis court at Live Oak Park and 2 tennis courts and 2 paddle tennis courts at Manhattan Heights Park.
• A table tennis court at Marine Avenue Park.
• 4 Pay-N-Play racquetball courts at Marine Avenue Park.
• 5 full-sized basketball courts: 2 at Marine Avenue Park, 2 at Live Oak Park, and 1 at Manhattan Heights Park.
• A 9-hole golf course at the Marriott Hotel.
• A 1.7 mile jogging path at Veteran’s Parkway.
• 6 batting cages: 2 at Live Oak Park, 2 at Marine Avenue Park, and 3 at Marine Sports Complex.
• A Begg Pool: the Mira Costa High School Pool.
• Fitness equipment at Polliwog Park, Veteran’s Parkway and Live Oak Park.
• Throughout the year, the City hosts multiple special events, including: concerts during the summer season, the Hometown Fair and the world famous Pumpkin Races in the fall; and the Pier Lighting Ceremony in the winter.
