Dog Walkers in Watts

Watts is a south Los Angeles community with a mixture of residential and commercial areas along main streets in the community. Thoroughfares like Compton Avenue, Central Avenue, and 103rd Street have many restaurants, shops, and services located along them that nearby residents can access on foot. The neighborhood has some historic landmarks including the Watts Towers, a historic-cultural monument, and the Watts Station, a 1904 train station that survived the fire during the 1965 Watts Riots. These attractions can be viewed on walks through the region on sunny, California days. 

The weather in this neighborhood is warm year round with no snow in winter. There is little rain to dampen walks with your dog, although heat can be a factor. On hot days, you may choose to avoid travel during the height of the day, opting instead for earlier in the day when temperatures are less extreme and you and your dog are less likely to get overheated.

Watts is a densely populated neighborhood with 2.12 square miles of territory. Hacienda Village, Nickerson Gardens, and Imperial Courts housing complexes are located in Watts as well as many single-family homes and low rise apartment buildings. Many single-family homes have properties with lawns, gardens, trees and other landscaping features. This urban area features mostly man-made structures and is well developed and established. Green spaces and natural areas are limited. 

Century Freeway runs by this community and impedes walking to the south. There are also other large thoroughfares with heavy traffic that can be difficult to negotiate on foot. Traverse these busy streets at designated pedestrian crossings as these areas are noisy with heavy traffic and are not particularly pet-friendly. Walking your dog down quiet residential streets may be preferable to busy roadways. The terrain in the neighborhood is flat and streets do not follow a grid pattern but are centred around housing complexes and smaller community areas.

There are two recreational centers with sports facilities and athletic fields where you can take your dog for a walk in the Watts area. The 109th Street Recreation Center and Jordan Downs Recreation Centre are located in the south and north of Watts respectively. Other parks in the community include Monitor Avenue Park which features outdoor fitness equipment and a playground and Simon Rodia Historic State Park where the famous Watts Towers structure stands. The tallest tower structure is 99 feet tall with only a 14-inch base. This sculpture is an interesting walking destination, even if it is not exactly 'green.' 

Other greenways can be accessed by vehicle in nearby communities with larger parks and the Pacific Ocean has dog-friendly areas and beaches can be reached to the west and south. The mountains to the north provide miles of wilderness trails that dogs and their people can explore, so for any walk-happy dog owner, you definitely have options.