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.
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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.[2]
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.[2]
Geography
On November 2, 2007, the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion renaming a large portion of Van Nuys to Lake Balboa. The new boundaries are as follows:[1]
I-405 / US-101 intersection, north to Saticoy Street,
Saticoy Street west to Valjean Avenue,
Valjean Avenue south to Vanowen Street,
Vanowen Street west to Hayvenhurst Avenue,
Hayvenhurst Avenue north to Saticoy Street,
Saticoy Street west to Balboa Boulevard,
Balboa Boulevard north to Balboa Place and then north to Roscoe Boulevard,
Roscoe Boulevard west to Louise Avenue (south side of Roscoe Boulevard from Balboa Boulevard to Louise Avenue will remain in Northridge with the 91325 ZIP code),
Louise Avenue south to Saticoy Street (east side of Louise Avenue from Roscoe Boulevard to Stagg Street will remain Northridge with the 91325 ZIP code),
Saticoy Street west to White Oak Avenue,
White Oak Avenue south to Victory Boulevard,
Victory Boulevard east to Balboa Boulevard,
Balboa Boulevard south to the Los Angeles River,
The Los Angeles River southeasterly to where US-101 and I-405 meet.
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.[2]
Economy
MGA Entertainment, a toy maker, previously had its headquarters in the Lake Balboa area, before moving to Chatsworth in the NW San Fernando Valley. [4][5]
Parks and recreation
Lake Balboa pond in Anthony C. Beilenson Park.
Lake Balboa Park, or Anthony C. Beilenson Park – an 80-acre (32 ha) recreation facility in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, named for Anthony C. Beilenson.[1][6] The only staff members at the park are lifeguards. The centerpiece of the park is the 27 acres (11 ha) Lake Balboa, filled with water from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.[6] The park has barbecue pits, a bicycle path, a cascade, a children's play area, a fly fishing area, a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) jogging path, a lake for fishing (swimming is prohibited), a launch ramp, pedal boats, picnic pavilions and picnic tables, private boating (only boats without motors are accepted, unless the boats are for electric trolling), a remote control boating cove, and toilet facilities. Japanese cherry blossom trees are located in the park. Parking lots exist at the park[7] The parks and recreation department dedicated a universally accessible playground, a playground designed for handicapped and non-handicapped children, at the Beilenson Park on Monday, June 9, 2008.[8]
Woodley Park – in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. It has an Apollo 3 Flight Field, an archery range, barbecue pits, an unlighted baseball diamond, a children's play area, cricket fields, picnic tables, toilets, and a wildlife nature preserve area. It is unstaffed and unlocked.[1][10] In addition two pocket parks are located in Lake Balboa.[1]
Jesse Owens Mini-Park, a 1.74 acres (0.70 ha) park, with toilet facilities. It is unstaffed and unlocked.[11]
Louise Park, a pocket park with barbecue pits, a lighted baseball diamond, many picnic benches, unlighted outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, and picnic tables. It is unstaffed and unlocked.[12]
Twenty-five percent of Lake Balboa residents aged 25 and older had earned a four-year degree by 2000, an average figure for both the city and the county.[2]
Schools within the Lake Balboa boundaries are:[18]
^Home page." Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council. Retrieved on December 26, 2009.
^ ab"Lake Balboa". City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
