Gardena Willows Wetlands Preserve

"It was closed so I didn’t get to see it but I don’t want to give them a one star!"

"I love this little gem. It's a forest in the city and nobody would know about it without the amazing people who work there. I think it's a better place and better kept because of the people who are making sure it's free of trash and unsolicited visitors. We are given tours of the plants and species and it's a safe place for kids to roam freely to get a feeling of being in nature where kids can learn and explore."

"When I was growing up we called it "The Swamp" and used to catch frogs and tadpoles there. And whatever illicit contraband we managed to find stashed there. Was much bigger then and wasn't gated. You could enter from behind South Park. We would find camps where random people would be hiding out. On one occasion, a man wearing some sort of cyclops mask chased us away. Unfortunately, most of the swamp is gone now and what's left is fenced and regulated. I'll give it 1 star for what it's become."

"This is a nature preserve that's filled with lots of plant life, butterflies and dragonflies. It's a wonderful experience to explore. There's a walking path so that you can explore the wetlands & they're also places to sit & rest along the way. It's only open to the public on certain days per month. So, check their website for the days that they are open."

"This is a very small wetland preserve close to the 110 in Gardena. The hours are very limited, so check the website for the days and hours they are open to the public. During Covid distancing, reservations are required, but free. There are lots of good examples of native vegetation, but due to the small size, you can never quite escape the road noise. It was a nice change from our regular nature walks, but we've had better luck spotting wildlife elsewhere. We'll plan to return when restrictions are over. Parking is easy at the nearby park."