Lake Balboa is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California.
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
Population
The 2000 U.S. census counted 24,328 residents in the 3.13-square-mile Lake Balboa neighborhood—or 7,754 people per square mile, about an average population density for the city. In 2008, the city estimated that the population had increased to 26,195. In 2000 the median age for residents was 35, considered average for city and county neighborhoods, but the percentage of residents aged 35 to 49 was among the county’s highest.
The neighborhood was considered “highly diverse” ethnically within Los Angeles. The breakdown was whites, 49%; Latinos, 34.1%; Asians, 8.8%; blacks, 3.5%; and others, 4.6%. Mexico (26%) and El Salvador (14.8%) were the most common places of birth for the 31.8% of the residents who were born abroad—a high percentage for Los Angeles.
The median yearly household income in 2008 dollars was $65,336, considered average for the city and county. Renters occupied 34.1% of the housing stock and house- or apartment-owners held 65.9%. The percentages of households that earned $40,000 to $125,000 a year were high for the county
Surroundings
Lake Balboa is flanked on the north by Northridge, on the east by Van Nuys, on the south by the Sepulveda Basin and on the west by Reseda.[3] Its street and other boundaries are Roscoe Boulevard on the north, Balboa Place, the Van Nuys Airport, Hayvenhurst Avenue and Odessa Avenue on the east, Victory Boulevard on the south and White Oak Avenue on the west.
Lake Balboa Park
Lake Balboa Park, also known as Anthony C. Beilenson Park, is a 80 acres (32 ha) park and water recreation facility with boat rentals and fishing. Lake Balboa is a 27 acres (11 ha) lake filled with water reclaimed from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.[8][9] It also has barbecue pits, children’s play area, picnic tables, and covered picnic pavilions. There are many Flowering cherry trees (Prunus serrulata ‘Pink Cloud’) in the park.
The Japanese Garden is a 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) public Japanese garden located on the grounds of the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant adjacent to Woodley Park, in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area of the central San Fernando Valley. It is in the community of Lake Balboa, adjacent to the Van Nuys and Encino neighborhood.
Its name in Japanese is SuihoEn meaning “garden of water and fragrance.” The idea of having a Japanese Garden adjacent to a water reclamation plant was conceived by Donald C. Tillman. The garden’s purpose was to demonstrate a positive use of reclaimed water, in what is usually considered a delicate environment, a Japanese garden. The ponds and irrigation use reclaimed water from the adjacent water reclamation plant.
