Just a short drive away, literally minutes, residents and their families can get away from it all at Franklin Canyon Park. This idyllic park is about 605 acres, and is home to the NATURE CENTER with a three acre duck pond, lake and picnic area, hiking trails, and outdoor educational programs (the William O. Douglas Outdoor classroom, or "WODOC") that serves local school children and visitors.

Another nearby oasis is Coldwater Canyon Park, home of TREEPEOPLE. The Park is part of a 1,000 acre cross-mountain preserve, and has an active ecological educational mission. There are Tree Care Workshops, a tree nursery, "Green Series" of environmental lectures, numerous trails, and Full Moon guided tours. Hikers, picnickers, and dogs on leashes are all welcome! For a taste of culture in the outdoors, there is the "Once Upon a Canyon Night" play readings and music series.