Granada Hills, CA

Granada Hills is located north of the North Hills and Northridge districts, west of the Mission Hills and Sylmar districts, and east of the Porter Ranch district. It is accessible by the Ronald Reagan (SR 118), San Diego (Interstate 405), and Golden State (Interstate 5) Freeways. Major thoroughfares include Balboa Boulevard, Woodley, Hayvenhurst, and Haskell Avenues, as well as Rinaldi Street, San Fernando Mission Boulevard, Chatsworth Street, and Devonshire Street.

In 1916, the San Fernando Valley's first oil well was drilled in what is now Granada Hills at the northern end of Zelzah Avenue. Granada Hills was founded in 1927 as "Granada", the "Hills" was added 15 years later. The area started out as a dairy farm and orchard known as the Sunshine Ranch. Among the crops harvested here were apricots, oranges, walnuts and beans. Vestiges of former citrus groves can still be seen in some residential yards.

O'Melveny Park, the second largest park in Los Angeles, consists of a large undeveloped area and a much smaller developed section with several dozen citrus trees, a small intermittent stream, and grass and picnic areas. The 672 acre park has hiking trails and fire roads and includes a grassy promontory with a view of the northeastern portion of the San Fernando Valley.

Mission Point and its environs are popular mountain biking and hiking areas. The view from the top of Mission Point, the highest point in Granada Hills, is striking, taking in most of the San Fernando Valley. In clear weather, one can see the Pacific Ocean and Downtown Los Angeles. The area around the peak is home to quails, bobcats, mule deer, mountain lions and rattlesnakes.

White Oak Avenue, between San Fernando Mission and San Jose Street was declared a Historical Landmark on August 3, 1966 for the 101 Deodar Cedar Trees that line the street (which has been dubbed "Christmas Tree Lane"). The trees are native to the Himalayas and valued for their size, beauty and timber.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada_hills,_ca