Winnetka Recreation Center 8401 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka

Size: 17 acres.

Facilities: 660-seat auditorium, indoor gymnasium, children’s play area, four baseball diamonds (two lighted), soccer field, football field, picnic area.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Information: (818) 341-1430.

Winnetka Park has more flat, open space than any park in the northwest San Fernando Valley. Because of that, for the past 10 years or so, the park has been extremely popular with residents in the area, according to park director Ed Laakso.

“People need a place where they can run and play football and soccer,” Laakso said. “This park simply has an awful lot of open space for that kind of activity.”

Organizers of AYSO recognized that back in the 1970s when they began using the park as a primary site for youth soccer, which starts its season in the early fall. Spring baseball is just getting under way.

“People like to bring their kids here for youth sports and then they take to the indoor gym for a game of basketball,” Laakso said.

The gym at Winnetka Park is open for public play Sundays and is used for adult and youth leagues all other times, he said.