Branches And Balance
A Physical Therapist’s Review of Bridgeport Park

August 19, 2026

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A Physical Therapist's Review of Bridgeport Park

This year I am focusing on parks in the Valencia area for my reviews. Next up on our list is just down the street from Valencia Heritage Park, which was my last review. It is an often overlooked park. Bridgeport Park is located right near Bridgeport Elementary.  It provides a lot of grass and there are several walking paths that pass through the park. This is not a playground we usually go to, as Heritage Park is right nearby and technically closer to our home in Castaic.  However, it is in the middle of Bridgeport and is within walking distance for all those that live in the neighborhood.

Quick Summary

Bridgeport Park offers a well shaded play structure. However, there is little seating nearby. The play structure is best for children 4 years and older. It is a small play structure and can get crowded when many kids are present and there aren’t any swings. Be aware that parking becomes a problem on Saturdays due to sports.  Continue reading the detailed review of Bridgeport Park for more insights and information.

Benefits

  • Great park for older children
  • Well shaded
  • Terrain: wood chips, grass, and cement
  • Fireman’s pole
  • Lots of wide open grassy area
  • Small botanical garden nearby

Drawbacks

  • Not much seating
  • Small play structure can get crowded if busy
  • Play structure is not good for toddlers and younger
  • No swings
  • Very busy for parking on Saturdays during sports seasons

A Closer Look: My Review of Bridgeport Park

The Basics

Bridgeport Park was dedicated in 2000. It is located next to Bridgeport Elementary adjacent to the Bridgeport housing development. It is within walking distance for anyone living in the development. There are a quite a few sit down and fast food restaurants nearby if you want to grab lunch or dinner before or after you go. There are walking paths that cross through the park as well. There are 2 separate parking lots. Next to the parking lot is a small drought-resistant botanical garden.

Amenities

Bridgeport Park offers a baseball diamond.

Location

23521 Bridgeport Ln. Santa Clarita, CA 91355

The Good Stuff

Bridgeport Park is well shaded with a wide canopy over the play structure.  There is a lot of green space. Many people bring their dogs for walks here, and there are walking paths throughout the park. The play structure offers a couple less common components. Several fast food and sit-down restaurants are nearby to grab a bite before or after playing. A local shopping center is just down the street if your kids need a break while running errands.  Just down the street is the Bridgeport Marketplace with a pond where you can cheerios to feed the local duck and goose population.

The Drawbacks

While the play structure here has a good variety, it is pretty small. If a lot of kids are playing here at the same time, it will get crowded quickly. It is also not the best for really young children. The slides are tall and the handle based monkey bars are advanced.  Seating is very limited near the play structure.

The Play Structure

The play structure has 2 slides: 1 bumpy and 1 that is curved.  The bumpy slide does slow your child down quite a bit, and my daughter got stuck a couple of times.  There is a short set of stairs to get up onto to play structure, as well as a few more stairs to get to the slide.  Another way to get up onto the structure is the arched ladder.

There is a set of monkey bars that are a bit different. These monkey bars are single handles only wide enough for one hand that are suspended on chains. The path they take is a curved, so it isn’t a straight shot. This is great for you advance monkey bar kids who need to work on only placing 1 hand on each rung. The journey from the end of the monkey bars to the slide crosses a curved rung bridge.

There is a fireman’s pole, which a lot of kids love to slide down. There is a “gymnastics bar” next to the ladder for the monkey bars. It’s a horizontal bar that kids used to sit on and spin around and hang from. These 2 features add a little extra fun to the play structure.

Insights for Parents

Bridgeport Park is not the best for those new to climbing. It’s better for preschoolers and older ( 4 years and up). The play structure is pretty small with only a few elements. However, I love the handle based monkey bars that are a bit more challenging, and the fireman’s pole.  This park is pretty busy during sports seasons, especially on Saturdays. Local sports use the baseball diamond and soccer fields.

A Physical Therapy Perspective

Bridgeport Park isn’t the best for toddlers and new walkers. The elements are a bit too challenging. The Fireman’s pole and the handle based monkey bars offer unique or hard to find challenges from other parks in the area. With the wide grassy expanse, it is great for working on running or kicking around a soccer ball. For those living nearby, it connects to the walkways through the Bridgeport neighborhood and can be a great break while taking your kids for a walk.

Parks Nearby in the Valencia, CA Area

Read our review of  Valencia Heritage Park (1.2 miles away).

Read our review of Central Park (2 miles away).

Read our review of Summit Park (2.4 miles away).

Circle J Ranch (3.3 miles)

Valencia Glen Park (3.5 miles)

Valencia Meadows Park (3.6 miles)

West Creek Park (3.9 miles away)

Almendra Park (4 miles)

Old Orchard Park (5.3 miles)

Resources

See the City’s website for their listing of amenities and location.

Need an Outlet in Bad Weather?

Beat the heat or prevent the drain on rainy days when the park is not the best option. Bring your child into one of our Fitness and Exercise Classes.

Sunlight and Snapshots of Bridgeport Park

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Developmental Balloon Activities for Children

May 18, 2026

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Balloon Activities for Children that Target Development

Balloons are not just for parties—they are a simple, affordable, and versatile tool for supporting your child’s development at home. They have bright colors, move slowly, and have a built-in fun factor. Balloons invite kids to jump, reach, kick, balance, and move their bodies in ways that build strength, coordination, and confidence. Best of all, balloon activities require very little setup and can easily be adapted for different ages and abilities, making them perfect for families looking to encourage active play indoors or outdoors. I use balloons frequently during treatment of my patients in a variety of ways. Today we are taking a look at some balloon activities that can turn everyday moments at home into meaningful movement opportunities. We are going to offer some Gross Motor, Sensory, and Muscle Strengthening activities.

We use many of these activities in our weekly children’s fitness classes. Feel free to check out some more information on our fitness classes. Or you can book a discovery call today for more ideas regarding gross motor activities or to find out more about our fitness classes.

Gross Motor Balloon Activities

Balloons can be used to promote many gross motor skills.  Balloons make great tools when working on both coordination and ball skills. In addition, they can be used to encourage good posture, work on jumping, and many other skills. Our list here is meant to inspire you and is not a comprehensive list. Comment below with your own fun ideas for balloon activities for children.

One balloon activity most people are familiar with is Keep It Up/Keepy Uppy. The goal is to keep the balloon in the air as long as possible by hitting it back and forth. There are lots of ways to mix this game up and make it more challenging or change the focus of the activity. First, have your child only use a specific body part such as a foot, elbow, or head. Second, allow your child to use any body part except for the hands. Third, when playing with a partner, take turns hitting the balloon. No one is allowed to hit it more than once in a row. Fourth, without a partner, alternate which hand you are using with each hit. Make it even more fun by taking turns with each hand, foot, the head, and the bottom. Fifth, you can even throw in more challenge by adding other body parts such as the knee, elbow, back of the foot/heel, or shoulder. Have your child hit them in a specific pattern, or call out random body parts. Get creative. For instance: right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg, head, and then repeat the pattern.  Sixth, have your child stand on a pillow, cushion, or balance disc while playing.

These variations can be great for working on balance, coordination, sequencing, and cognition.

One special note here! If you have a child who “w” sits, have them play Keepy Uppy while seated cross legged.

A balloon can be used in place of a ball and turn many activities into a balloon activity instead. This can be great for working on technique, or slowing down a skill your child is having trouble with. Balloons slow movement often gives children more time to react.  Substitute a balloon for a soccer ball and kick it around. Whack a balloon back and forth in the air using tennis rackets, badminton rackets, or pickleball rackets. You can even balance a balloon on a tee and practice hitting it with a bat.  Playing catch is great with a balloon as well.

These balloon activities are all great for working on ball skills and coordination.

One of my favorites to play with my daughters is balloon bowl catch. We each take a bowl that is just larger than the inflated balloon and use it to catch the balloon. After it is caught, the person picks it up and hits it back to the other person, who then has to catch it in their own bowl. I have mixed it up by having my daughter jump off the couch to catch the balloon as well. We have also mixed it up using our second story. Our second story has a pony wall, so I hit the balloon over the wall down to the first floor. Then my daughter will walk up the stairs to bring it back to me.

This can be great for working on cardio, coordination, ball skills, and stairs, depending on how you play.

You can even work on balance using balloon activities. One option is to place a balloon on the floor and have your child place one foot on top of it. See how long your child can stand like this with one foot on the floor and one on the inflated balloon.  Make sure your child tries with both feet.  Mix it up by having the child place his/her hands on her hips, close his/her eyes, play catch, or do some other activity while standing like this.

Another great activity is to have your child balance an inflated balloon on a specific body part. This can be any body part. Again, get creative. Can he/she balance the balloon on a single finger?  How about on his/her knee? Balancing a balloon on the head can be really challenging and fun at the same time.  See if they can keep it balanced while moving as well.

Want to burn off some energy? Try the balloon run. This is a great balloon activity to keep your child moving.  Tie a string or ribbon to turn your balloon into a kite. Have your child walk or run around without allowing the balloon to touch the floor. The longer your string, the harder the challenge. They can even do zig zags, walk backwards, or sideways to up the challenge. Make it more entertaining by adding silly walks at the same time. Can your child walk like lion while holding the string in his/her teeth and still keep the balloon off the floor?

    Help your child work on lung capacity and strengthen the muscles that assist in breathing by blowing the balloon. You can have races and see who can blow their balloon across the finish line first. Or have your child blow the balloon along a taped path that zig zags or turns. You can make this more challenging by using a straw. The wider the mouth of the straw, the easier the challenge.  Just make sure to watch for hyperventilation!  Another great alternative is inflating balloons.  The fresher the balloon, the harder it is to inflate. Again, you can make it harder by placing a straw in the neck of the balloon and having them inflate it through the straw.

    Sensory Balloon Activities

    Balloons can be also be used to help children with sensory integration and sensory processing difficulties.  Balloons can be used to affect the vestibular, auditory, and tactile systems.  This means those kids who crave or shy away from sounds, touch, and movement. Sensory disorders can be a bit challenging. What better way to supplement treatment than with a balloon?  These activites can be fun for children without sensory integration difficulties as well. Comment below with your own fun ideas for sensory balloon activities for children.

    Vestibular

    For those kids who are sensory seekers, or if your child’s Occupational Therapist said they should get some spinning in, here’s a great activity. All you have to do is tie a string to the balloon and have your child spin while holding the string. You can up the fun by giving them multiple balloons on strings and have them pretend to be a tornado.

    Auditory

    For those kids who face challenges in regards to sounds, here are a couple ideas. First, inflate a balloon but do not tie it off.  Using both hands, grip the neck of the balloon on each side and pull outwards to make the balloon squeal as it releases the air. Second, fill the balloon up loosely with something. I like marbles, but rice, beans, popcorn kernels, and other things can work as well. Tie the knot to keep everything inside.  Now your child can shake it or toss it around and listen to the objects inside make noise.

    Tactile

    Finally, we have the kids who are tactile defensive or tactile seeking. These kids are the ones who crave or shy away from being touches or from specific textures. Both of these activities have a similar setup.  To start, you are going to fill up some balloons with anything and everything you can think of. Some great ideas to get you started include: rice, coffee beans, coffee grounds (dry), water beads, dice, water, salt, slime, play dough, popcorn, sand, shaving cream, hair gel, flour, dry uncooked beans, cornstarch, sugar, or marbles. Again, this list isn’t all inclusive. Tie a knot to keep it all inside.  For one of the activities, you only need one balloon filled with each item, and for the other, fill 2 balloons with each item so that they all have a match.  If you want to make the matches easier on you, you can make sure the matches are both the same color, or write a letter or number on them with a permanent marker.

    Activity one is pretty simple. It just involves letting your child play, squish, and interact with the various balloons.  Activity two is a matching game. Have your child close his/her eyes and feel the various balloons. The goal is to identify which 2 balloons are filled with the same things strictly by touch.

    Muscle Strengthening Balloon Activities

    First up on our strengthening exercises is the balloon bridge. Many of you know what a bridge is.  You lay on the floor on your back with your knees bent. Then you lift up your bottom to make a bridge with your body.  This is a variation of that exercise. Inflate and tie off a balloon, but don’t make it massive. The balloon is placed between your child’s knees. They must then lift their bottom off of the ground without the balloon popping or falling. One tip, have your child cross his/her arms or placer his/her arms on her shoulders so they can’t cheat and use their arms to push up.

    This exercise is great for hip and bottom strength, and throws in a little core strengthening as well.

    Our second suggested exercise has 2 variations.  These are both based on the crab walk. The crab walk is where a child walks using their hands and feet, with their stomach facing up to the ceiling. Variation number one involves playing keepy uppy while maintaining the crab walk position and crab walking around the room. They can use hands, feet, or their head to keep the balloon up in the air.  Variation number two is about balance. Once your child has assumed the crab walk position, balance an inflated balloon on his/her stomach. The goal is now for him/her to crab walk across the room or to a finish line while keeping the balloon balanced without it falling off.

    This is great for strengthening the bottom, core, hips, and shoulders. It even throws in a little bit of neck strength as well.

    Wrapping It Up

    Incorporating balloons into sensory, strengthening, and gross motor activities provides children with fun opportunities to develop without it feeling like work. These simple activities support body awareness, coordination, muscle development, and sensory processing—all while keeping play at the center of learning. With just a balloon and a little imagination, everyday time at home can become a chance for meaningful movement, connection, and confidence-building. So grab a balloon, follow your child’s lead, and enjoy watching their skills—and smiles—grow.

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    Children’s Fitness Class Curriculum

    April 20, 2026

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    Introducing

    Our New Fitness Class Curriculum

    We have recently restructured our fitness classes. This includes new names for all of our classes to provide a cohesive feel, as well as a more consistent and structured curriculum. Most of our classes will now follow the same basic content structure across all of the ages. We have updated our pricing structure with new options. Read on for more details about our new classes, curriculum, and costs. You can also visit our Fitness Classes page for details. We currently allow up to 10 child participants per class.  We are so excited to implement this new plan and look forward to welcoming all ages in our classes.

    Fitness Class Sequence

    We will now offer classes for participants from birth through age 18.  Each class is broken up by skill level and needs. We ask for parent participation in all classes for children 4 years and younger.  For children falling outside of the age appropriate skills, accommodations can be discussed.  All our classes will be between 40 and 60 minutes long.

    GENTLE SEEDS (0-7 MONTHS OLD)

    This class is dedicated towards the youngest members of the family. This class will not follow the standard curriculum and instead will have it’s own curriculum catered towards our tiniest friends.

    This class is in the Mommy-and-Me style.  During this course parents will be provided with strategies to tackle the important and intimidating “tummy time.” We will work on age appropriate developmental skills such as rolling, army crawling, and sitting. We will discuss developmental milestones as well as parenting tips and advice.

    LITTLE LEAVES (6-12 MONTHS OLD)

    This class is a welcoming environment for young family members. While they aren’t quite as fresh to the world as in “Gentle Seeds,” they still require care. As such, this class will also not follow the standard curriculum, instead having it’s own curriculum.

    This class is in the Mommy-and-Me style.  This is the age when our little ones start moving. We will work on a lot of movement skills, including crawling, cruising along furniture, and even walking.  Learning to transition between the many positions is also key. The focus on “tummy time” is usually decreased during this age because the infants are much more active. We will discuss developmental milestones, safety for our littlest movers, as well as parenting tips and advice.

    SEEDLING STEPS (1-2 YEARS OLD)

    This class is dedicated towards toddlers. This class will not follow the standard curriculum and instead will have it’s own curriculum catered towards new walkers, or those just getting started on walking.

    This class is in the Mommy-and-Me style.  During this course parents will be provided with strategies to assist in their toddler’s exploration and new skills. We will work on age appropriate developmental skills such as climbing, running, and walking. During this class we begin to work much more on balance and the new challenges that those who are walking encounter, especially obstacles. We will discuss developmental milestones, playground and walking safety, as well as parenting tips and advice.

    TWISTY TWIGS (2-4 YEARS OLD)

    This class is dedicated towards preschool aged children. This is the first class that uses our new curriculum system. Each week we will have different focus topic.

    This class is in the Mommy-and-Me style. Children will learn balance, coordination, and control of their bodies through fun songs, strengthening exercises, and yoga.  They will learn to take turns and to be respectful to their peers. We will explore the ways our bodies move together.  Parents will learn about safety and how to help these eager explorers continue to grow stronger.

    SUPER SPROUTS (4-6 YEARS OLD)

    This class is dedicated towards TK and Kindergarten aged children. This class uses our new curriculum system. Each week we will have different focus topic. This is the same class that we offer through the after-school program at Castaic Unified School District.

    Parents are not required to participate in this class. However, we strongly encourage parent participation. This helps the class go more smoothly. Children will work on balance and coordination through fun songs, games, strengthening exercises, and yoga.  They will learn to take turns and to be respectful to their peers. We will begin to learn more about the parts of our bodies and the different ways they move.

    RISING ROOTS (6-8 YEARS)

    This class is dedicated towards 1st and 2nd graders. This class uses our new curriculum system. Each week we will have different focus topic.

    Parents are not required to participate in this class. We do ask that parents stay on or near the premises.   Children will work on advancing and improving their skills through fun songs, games, strengthening exercises, and yoga.  They will learn to take turns and to be respectful to their peers. We will learn about the different joints of the body, and the names of some of the bones and muscles.

    BALANCED BRANCHES (8-10 YEARS)

    This class is dedicated towards 3rd and 4th graders. This class uses our new curriculum system. Each week we will have different focus topic.

    Parents are not required to participate in this class. We do ask that parents stay on or near the premises.   Children will work on advancing and improving their skills. We begin placing a heavier emphasis on strengthening exercises  in this class. Children learn more about proper technique here to build the foundation for improving strength effectively. We will still play games and make the activities fun as well, but will include a dedicated set of strengthening exercises each week. Children will learn about positive self-image and being respectful to both themselves and their peers. We will learn about the different joints of the body, and the names of some of the bones and muscles.

    CONFIDENT CANOPY (10-12 YEARS)

    This class is dedicated towards 5th and 6th graders. This class uses our new curriculum system. Each week we will have different focus topic.

    Parents are not required to participate in this class. Children will work on advancing and improving their skills. We begin taking a more traditional approach to exercising during this class. Many of our friends are entering puberty during this window and fitness becomes even more important in building a good foundation for life. We will have a dedicated set of strengthening exercises, as well as a dedicated cardio set.  We will utilize the Just Dance video game to get all the kids moving during some weeks. Our Pre-Teen participants will explore the different types of exercise, as well as their effects and importance. We will learn more about the bones and muscles of the body, as well as their functions.

    STRONG SEQUOIAS (12-14 YEARS)

    This class is dedicated towards 7th and 8th graders. This class branches away from our new curriculum system. Each week will be more well rounded, but will still have some focus tied to the curriculum system.

    Parents are not required to participate in this class. We take a more traditional approach to exercising during this class. Many of our friends are entering puberty during this window and fitness becomes even more important in building a good foundation for life. We will have a dedicated set of strengthening exercises, as well as a dedicated cardio set.  We will utilize the Just Dance video game to get all the kids moving during some weeks. Our participants will explore the different types of exercise, as well as their effects and importance. We will learn more about the bones and muscles of the body, as well as their functions. We will also take into consideration the sports or extracurricular activities of our participants when determining the activities each week.

    ALPINE ASCENT (14-18 YEARS)

    This class is for our High School aged participants. This class only loosely utilizes our new curriculum system. Each week will be more well rounded, but will still have some focus tied to the curriculum system. We take into consideration our participants needs. This class is all about building success in fitness as future adults.

    Parents are not required to participate in this class. We take a more traditional approach to exercising during this class. We will have a dedicated set of strengthening exercises, as well as a dedicated cardio set.  Our classes will be a bit more like circuit training. Depending on our participants, we will generally have stations set up for them to rotate through. We will also utilize the Just Dance video game during some weeks. We will learn how to develop an exercise program and help each participant with their own unique needs.

    Fitness Class Curriculum

    Our children’s fitness classes will now implement an 8 week curriculum on a cycle. A few differences will be thrown in each cycle for our friends who continually enroll to keep things fresh and fun. All classes will use this same schedule, with the exception those classes for our youngest and oldest participants. The classes that do not use this new curriculum include: Gentle Seeds (0-6 months), Little Leaves (7-12 months), Seedling Steps (1-2 years).  Our Strong Sequoias (12-14 years) and Alpine Ascent (14-18 years) classes will only loosely use this new curriculum.

    Week 1

    This first week we will focus on the foundation of our body—the core. We will work on strengthening and stretching our back and core muscles. We will learn about the spine and core muscles.

    Week 2

    The focus this week is on our arms. We will work on strengthening and stretching our arms. We will learn about the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. We will work a bit on hand-eye coordination.

    Week 3

    The focus this week is on our legs. We will work on strengthening and stretching our legs. We will learn about the ankle, knee, and hip. We will work a bit on balance on 1 foot and foot-eye coordination.

    Week 4

    The focus this week is on our hands and feet. We will work on strengthening and stretching the small muscles in our feet and hands.

    Week 5

    This week we will focus on balance. We will learn about the different things that can affect our balance. We will work on improving balance and strengthening  our core.

    Week 6

    This week we will focus on jumping. We will learn about the different kinds of jumping and work on strengthening. We will also tackle an obstacle course.

    Week 7

    This week the focus in on ball skills. We will work on catching, throwing, kicking, and other activities that use a ball. We will work on coordination, as well as generalized strength and flexibility.

    Week 8

    Our final week will be a bit of a wrap-up. We will review a bit of everything, as well as work on some tumbling skills. Some of our activities will focus a lot on partner work. This week is more of a “for fun” week and will be a bit more participant directed. They will pick some of the activities, within restrictions, from things we have tackled over the last 7 weeks.

    Fitness Class Costs

    We will now offer an 8 week package for $240. As the curriculum will be on a cycle, joining at any time is welcome. Whether you join our class at week 1 or week 7, your child will still be able to participate in all 8 weeks of the curriculum. Where your child starts is not going to impact the outcomes or their enjoyment of the class.

    As before, we will continue to offer a monthly enrollment package. This package costs $130 per month. This provides your child with attendance to 1 class a week for 4 weeks. This is intended to be a  continuous enrollment plan. Months will be pro-rated when you join part of the way through the month. In months where there would be a 5th class at your regularly scheduled time, that class is offered to you at no extra cost.

    Finally, we offer attendance to a single, individual class for $40. This is meant for people who just want to drop by occasionally, instead of regularly attending.  While we do offer this option, it is not encouraged. Children will feel more comfortable participating and have more fun when they attend on a regular basis.

    Please contact us via phone or email to enroll in our classes.

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    A Physical Therapy Review of Valencia Heritage Park

    January 23, 2026

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    A Physical Therapist's Review of Valencia Heritage Park

    I feel like my park review introductions last year were very rote, so I am going to try something a little different this year. Parks are an important part of any family’s life. As such, it is important to be sure that the park you go to meets the needs of your whole family. As a physical therapist and a mother of 3, I have a unique lens through which I view parks.  My hope with this review is to provide parents with the tools to choose the best parks for their families.

    Valencia Heritage Park is located in the Valencia area of Santa Clarita. It offers multiple fields, a good size playground, tennis courts, and even a cornhole pitch. I come here a few times a year with my girls, and come here often with my patients as a physical therapist. Valencia Heritage Park is commonly referred to by locals as just “Heritage Park.”

    Quick Summary

    Valencia Heritage Park is a very popular park. It can get pretty busy and there are often sports games going in the evening. The play structures are not well shaded, but there is a covered picnic area. There is a lot of grass with 2 sports fields. Commonly referred to as “Heritage Park,” the park also has tennis courts and a cornhole pitch. Heritage Park is great for all ages, but the play structure can feel crowded when it is busy. Continue reading the review of Valencia Heritage Park for more insights and information.

    Benefits

    • Good for all ages
    • Terrain: tree roots, pour-in-place rubber, wood chips, grass, and cement
    • Adaptive, standard, bucket, and tandem swings
    • Lots of wide open grassy area
    • Grassy hill for new walkers
    • Low set of monkey bars for young/short children
    • Lots of parking

    Drawbacks

    • Not well shaded
    • Play structure feels crowded when the park is busy
    • Popular park that can be busy often

    A Closer Look: My Review of Valencia Heritage Park

    The Basics

    Valencia Heritage Park was once land occupied by Native Americans and was purchased by Henry Mayo in 1875. The park opened in 2008. It is located in the Valencia area off Newhall Ranch Road.  It has 2 dedicated parking lots.  You can turn into one off of McBean Pkwy, and the other is off of Newhall Ranch Road. However, it should be noted that a median divides the road, so you cannot turn left into the parking lot off Newhall Ranch Road. Instead, you will either have to turn left onto McBean or flip a U-turn. Valencia Heritage Park also connects directly to San Francisquito Creek Bike Trail.

    Amenities

    Valencia Heritage Park offers three tennis courts. There is also a covered picnic area with a good amount of tables, as well as a barbecue. A few benches for parents surround the playground.

    Location

    24155 Newhall Ranch Road Santa Clarita, CA 91354

    The Good Stuff

    Heritage Park offers a hill right next to the playground. This is great for working on walking up and down an incline. Kids also love rolling down hills. Another fun things is that behind the tennis courts are some permanent cornhole pitches set up. Bring your own bean bags and you can play a game of cornhole. There park crosses paths with the San Francisquito Creek Bike Trail if you want to go for a bike ride before or after. Across McBean Parkway is a shopping center with a duck pond and a few sit down restaurants. Down the street on Bouquet Canyon Road are several shopping centers with both fast food and sit down restaurants. There are also several other stores, such as Lowes, Trader Joes, and Best Buy. This allows for a play break before or after running errands. Or you can grab some food and have a picnic at the park.

    The Drawbacks

    Heritage Park is a bit lacking in shade. The picnic tables are well shaded, but other than that there is little shade. Heritage Park is also a very popular park located in the middle of a busy area, so it can get pretty busy sometimes.

    The Play Structure

    The 2 play structures are surrounded by wood chips. The big kid play structure has 3 slides of varying heights. It is accessed by a flight of stairs, and arched ladder, a climbing mountain, a semi circle ladder, and a rope assisted ladder. The medium sized slide is pretty steep.

    The little kid play structure is accessed by a small set of stairs. There are also 2 stepping stones to get in another way. This smaller play structure has 2 slides. The best thing about the small structure is the low set of monkey bars.

    In between the 2 play structures are some swings. They consist of 4 different types of swings. There is a single adaptive swing that is accessed via a rubber flooring path from the sidewalk.  Next to the adaptive swing is a standard swing. There is also a bucket swing for infants and a tandem swing for a parent and an infant to ride together.

    Insights for Parents

    Heritage park is popular for pickup games of Ultimate Frisbee. Due to the 2 large fields, many sports games are held here. Heritage Park is also a very popular park, so it can get crowded.  On weekday mornings I have occasionally seen a group of special needs adults here accompanied by other adults.  This is a great park for families with a variety of ages.

    A Physical Therapy Perspective

    Valencia Heritage Park offers quite a variety. My favorite thing about Heritage Park is the low set of monkey bars, which is perfect for children around 4 years old to learn without you holding them up or them falling from up high. The play structures only have a limited number of elements, so for my climbers I do like to recommend other parks. The hill between the big kid play structure and the tennis courts is great for new walkers or kids who like seek sensory input as they can roll down the hill. Just be aware that rolling down grassy hills often leads to lots of tiny scratches from the grass (in case your child complains of being itchy afterwards).

    Parks Nearby in the Valencia, CA Area

    Read our review of Bridgeport Park (2 miles away).

    Read our review of Summit Park (2.8 miles away).

    Read our review of West Creek Park (2.8 miles away).

    Almendra Park (4 miles)

    Valencia Meadows Park (4 miles)

    Valencia Glen Park (4.1 miles)

    Circle J Ranch (4.8 miles)

    Old Orchard Park (5.4 miles)

    Also close by Central Park (3.8 miles)

    Resources

    See the City’s website for their listing of amenities and location.

    Sunlight and Snapshots of Valencia Heritage Park

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    A Physical Therapy Review of Summit Park

    November 3, 2025

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    A Physical Therapist's Review of Valencia Summit Park

    Summit Park is located in the Valencia area. It is just one of more than 30 parks in Santa Clarita.  It offers a good sized playground and a massive grassy expanse. While this park is not one of our usual haunts, my husband and I love to come here and go for walks on date night. As a physical therapist, I look for different things in parks than a typical parent. I look at the playground through an eye prioritizing development. When I came here aimed to write a review of Summit Park, I looked closely at the park as a whole, as well as each component of the park.

    I applied the lenses of pediatric physical therapist and mother of 3 together to create this review of Summit Park.  With over 30 local parks to choose from, what makes Summit Park worth it?  Or is Summit Park not the right fit for your family. Whether you are new to the area, new to parenting, or just looking to mix up playtime, this review of Summit Park can provide you insight.

    Quick Summary

    While Summit Park offers a variety of terrain types, a de

    cent amount of shade, and a large grassy area, parents will find it lacking in a few things.  There is a shortage of seating for parents, the play structure is short, and there aren’t any restrooms.  Summit Park is best for children under 5 years old. Continue reading the detailed review of Summit Park for more insights and information.

    Benefits

    • Great park for all ages
    • Terrain: pour-in-place rubber, wood chips, grass, and cement
    • Bucket and standard swings
    • Massive amount of wide open grassy area
    • Lots of shade
    • Wide variety of climbing challenges

    Drawbacks

    • Camp Clarita location during the summer for ages 5-12 years
    • No bathrooms

    A Closer Look: My Review of Summit Park

    The Basics

    Summit Park is part of the Valencia Summit neighborhood.  You can find it on McBean Parkway.  The Valencia Community Center is located here as well. Summit Park offers a massive green space and lots of trees. A walking path surrounds most of the park, and also leads into the surrounding neighborhood. There is a dedicated parking lot that has a reasonable amount of parking. You can also park in the neighborhood and walk down, but it is a pretty long walk if you are going to the playground.

    Amenities

    Summit Park offers 3 tennis courts. There are cement picnic tables in various places, as well as benches here and there.  Near the playground is a covered area with picnic tables.

    Location

    26147 McBean Parkway Santa Clarita, CA 91355

    The Good Stuff

    Summit Park has a massive lawn.  This park is popular with dog owners, and you could have 4 or 5 people throwing toys for dogs in a single file line and still have space. Summit Park is in a central location in town, located on McBean Parkway between the mall and the Granary Square Shopping Center, just on the opposite side of the road.  With the location so close to many restaurants, eating out for breakfast or lunch and then heading to the park is easy. There’s even a Ralph’s in the Granary Square Shopping Center if you want to make a grocery run right afterwards. The big kids play structure here is amazing, and a great size.  There is a ton of shade throughout the park. You shouldn’t have trouble finding space to park a blanket, so long as you aren’t picky. The picnic tables and drinking fountain are all pretty close to the play structures.

    The Drawbacks

    Non-locals should be aware that there are no bathrooms located at this park. The little kids playground is on the short side, not good for kids much older than 4 years old. There aren’t too many places to sit right next to the playground if the park is busy — a cement wall and a couple of benches. During the summer, you should also be aware that this is a Camp Clarita location, so the campers will be on the playground a lot. The age ranges offered here are Rangers (5-8 years) and Explorers (9-12 years), so the big kids will be running around too.

    The Play Structure

    There are 2 play structures. The big kid play structure is large.  There are 3 slides: 1 double, 1 bumpy, and 1 second story spiral tube slide. There are a couple different monkey bars in the back of the structure, including a curvy set of standard monkey bars, as well as triangle shaped bars.  There are two sets of stairs — a steep narrower set, and the wider open set near the shortest slide. An arched ladder, a very short standard ladder, and a taller ladder with semicircle rungs are all present for accessing the structure.  There are even two different chain ladders.  The standard grid chain ladder that I love to start kids on is present next to the two-story slide.  There is also a narrow, single width chain ladder that is pretty challenging. It is spaced fairly far from the play structure, so kids will have difficulty stepping from the top rung onto the structure.

    The play structure for little kids is pretty short, but it does manage to have 3 small slides. One of them curves, one is straight, and one is a tube slide. There is a set of wide triangle stairs to the shortest slide, and more stairs leading from there to the tube slide.  A narrower, steeper set of stairs leads to the final slide. The platforms of final slide and the tube slide are connected by a little tunnel. In between the play structures are the swings, including 2 standard and 2 bucket swings. Right between them is a low, wide cement wall that parents often sit on, but would also be great for kids to practice walking on. It is a good width, so they are not likely to step off.

    Insights for Parents

    Summit Park has sidewalk paths around the edge of the park.  According to alltrails.com you can take a walking loop up to 2.5 miles long.

    It should also be noted that this is a Camp Clarita location. It gets really busy during the summer. The park is also popular for dog owners. There are no restrooms here, so go to the bathroom before coming.

    A Physical Therapy Perspective

    Summit Park is great for children of all ages.  There is a great variety of ways to climb onto the big kids play structure. These can challenge kids of varying skills and ages.  The monkey bars are great for working on grip strength and coordination. The walking loop is great for a walk, a bike, or a scooter. There is also plenty of shade. I love this park with its central location in town.

    Parks Nearby in the Valencia, CA Area

    Read our review of Valencia Meadows Park.

    Read our review of Valley Park.

    Read our review of Valencia Glen Park.

    Pamplico Park (2.2 miles)

    Santa Clarita Park (3.4 miles)

    Pacific Crest Park (3.5 miles)

    Golden Valley Park (3.8 miles)

    Chesebrough Park (4.2 miles)

    Duane R Harte Park (4.6 miles)

    Circle J Ranch (5.5 miles)

    Resources

    See the City’s website for their listing of amenities and location.

    Sunlight and Snapshots of Summit Park

    Read more
    Educational Kids Shows on Amazon Prime

    October 13, 2025

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    Educational Kids Shows on Amazon Prime

    Media, screen time, and TV shows are a constant talking point for parents. While these aren’t something related to physical therapy, they do seem to come up a lot during treatment.  As a pediatric physical therapist, I need to know a little bit about the most popular kids shows. This can help my treatments flow more smoothly, as well as provide conversation with the children I am treating.  Most children love it when you know about their favorite characters from TV shows, movies, and video games. These topics also pop up a lot in my discussions with their parents.

    In graduate school they didn’t exactly teach us about kids shows. However, as a mom of 3 lovely daughters, I’ve definitely watched my fair share of children’s programming. I’d like to discuss some of my children’s favorites and why I feel they have value. If we are going to let our children have screen time, I feel it should be good quality and not mindless.

    Today I’m going to focus on our favorite kids shows that are available on Amazon Prime. I have focused on preschool age shows, although my girls watched many of these shows through second grade. I have also only listed ones included in Amazon Prime, not ones that you have to buy or pay an extra subscription fee for.

    Our Favorite Educational Kid Shows

    These three shows are our absolute favorites that are available on Amazon Prime for free currently. These are shows that I personally feel are great from an educational standpoint and have good values. As an added bonus, I don’t feel like I’m going crazy if I sit down to watch them with the girls. I know as a parent sometimes that is the worst thing about kids shows. Your kids may enjoy them, but you can’t stand them. All 3 of my girls watched two of them, and 2 of my girls loved the last one.

    Tumble Leaf

    Tumble Leaf first aired in 2014 and has 4 seasons.  It was filmed using stop-motion. The show has earned a variety of awards over the years of 2014 through 2020, including Daytime Emmy Awards, Annie Awards, Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and British Academy Children’s Awards. The main character is a blue fox named Fig and his caterpillar Stick.

    My two oldest really loved this show, and still watch it every now and then.  My youngest watches it a little bit here and there. I feel this show is very good for children. While each episode is around 24 minutes, they are broken up into 2 segments, which is better for the short attention spans of young children.

    About the Show

    In each segment, Fig finds some item in “the Finding Place,” which is a treasure chest just below his bedroom. He then goes about his day while using this item to solve problems or in other creative ways. Sometimes the item isn’t used to solve a problem, but begins an adventure. The whole premise of the show is encouraging creative and outside of the box thinking through play. In the very first segment, Fig finds a bag of coins that he takes to make wishes at the wishing well. However, it is too dark to get back home. He makes his way home by the light of the moon reflecting of clamshells that he makes laugh.

    The Good Stuff

    This show promotes play, creative thinking, and learning about the world around you from different perspectives. The music is whimsical and the show is slower paced. At about 11 minutes long, the segments are short enough to keep young children’s attention, but still long enough that they won’t get overstimulated.

    Watch Tumble Leaf

    If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

    If You Give a Mouse a Cookie was released on Amazon in 2017 and has 2 season. Each episode is about 30 minutes long and is broken up into 2 shorter segments about 15 minutes long. There are 3 holiday special episodes including If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie, If You Give a Mouse a Pumpkin, and If You Give a Mouse a Valentine. The show follows the daily hijinks of the characters from Laura Numeroff’s book series.  Mouse, Cat, Dog, Pig, and Moose join their human friends Oliver, Esme Louise, Henry, Piper, and Leo.  The music is sung by children’s song artist Lisa Loeb.  The animation follows the same style as Numeroff’s books.

    All of my girls have enjoyed this show to varying degrees and they have all seen every episode at least twice. I feel this show is very good for children. This is in part due to the episodes being broken up into 2 separate segments, allowing for the shorter attention span of young children.

    About the Show

    In each episode, Mouse requests an item that sets off a chain of events, just like in the books.  However, a lot of the events are problem solving or involve creativity.  In several of the episodes, Mouse is give the same item in both segments, but it is used in a different way. I love how this show promotes problem solving and creativity. The show is lighthearted and not overstimulating. You never know what adventure Mouse and his crew will get up to next.  And of course, Mouse loves cookies, Moose loves muffins, Dog loves donuts, Pig loves pancakes, and Cat loves cupcakes just like in the books. However, the show adds more depth to the characters and demonstrates their friendship. Friendship is a huge theme in the show.

    The Good Stuff

    This show promotes problem solving, creative thinking, and friendship. The show moves quickly in the fashion of the books, but doesn’t feel fast paced. At about 15 minutes long, the segments are short enough to keep young children’s attention, but still long enough that they won’t get overstimulated. I also love that Laura Numeroff’s treasured and timeless characters have been brought to life.

    Watch If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

    Blue’s Clues & You

    Blue’s Clues & You! first aired in 2019 and has 5 seasons. Amazon labels the seasons differently, and only the first 3 of the Amazon seasons are free on Amazon Prime. The series features Blue and a new host-Josh. Each episode is about 23 minutes long. Many of the episodes are a reboot of the originals with a new host but the same or similar plotline.  Your favorite characters still return. The show is technically a continuation of the original Blue’s Clues series, and Steve or Joe return in many of the episodes. In the context of the show, Steve and Joe are brothers and Josh’s Cousins. The series was nominated for several awards

    Only my 2 youngest watch this show. My 3 year old went through a time where all she watched was Blue’s Clues & You for a couple months. She tends to rotate her shows a lot more than my two older girls did at her age. I love Blue’s Clues & You for many reasons, and I have to admit one of them is the nostalgia. I grew up watching the original. I also love interactive shows that try to get the kids involved.

    About the Show

    For those of you who don’t know about the original, each episode of Blue’s Clues & You features a question that Josh is trying to find the answer to. Blue, his blue puppy, leaves clues to help him find the answer. It is a bit of a scavenger hunt. Josh looks through the house, or even outside, looking for 3 blue pawprints on objects that are the clues.  Once all three clues have been found, Josh sits in his “thinking chair” and tries to figure out what the answer is.  During the show Josh and the other characters often talk to the viewer and ask questions.

    The Good Stuff

    This series is fun and light-hearted and I love that they pay homage to the original series and hosts. The show is interactive and tries to bring your child into active participation, rather than just passively watching the show.  Children are invited to think and go on fun adventures with Josh and Blue. The show is nicely paced and not overly stimulating. You should note that the episodes are on the longer side, 23 minutes, so some kids might have a hard time.

    Watch Blue's Clues & You

    Honorable Mentions

    I feel these shows have good value, but not quite as good as the above three for one reason or another. My children have all enjoyed them to varying degrees and I still let them watch each series. Some my children might have not gotten into as much, or didn’t last as long with that particular show. Others I just didn’t like as much personally or felt they had a little less value or were overstimulating.

    They have a couple PBS Kids shows-Clifford the big red dog (new and old) , and Clifford’s puppy days, dinosaur train(not available anymore)

    Paw Patrol

    Only 2 of Amazon Prime’s seasons are available. Amazon’s seasons aren’t on track with the actual seasons that aired.  Paw Patrol first aired in 2013 and is still going. The second Paw Patrol movie is also available on Amazon Prime. My two youngest girls both watch Paw Patrol and are huge fans. I love that the characters are helpful and solve the problems of the community around them. The show promotes problem solving, being helpful, and has good values.

    Each episode is 23 minutes long and broken up into 2 segments — which is a great length for young viewers. However, I feel that this show can be a bit more on the overstimulating side. I also don’t like that the mayor of the nearby town is the one causing problems a lot of the time. Mayor Humdinger is whiny and drives me crazy.  I have a hard time sitting down with my girls to watch this one and it more often goes on the TV when I’m otherwise occupied with something such as dinner preparations.

    Bubble Guppies

    Only 1 of Amazon Prime’s seasons is available. Bubble Guppies first aired in 2011 and has 6 seasons. Only my oldest really got into this show. The show follows a group of preschool mermaids as they learn from Mr. Grouper.  The show has silly jokes, lots of music, and tells stories.  There is a lot of learning. The episodes are 23 minutes long.  The show is very educational as the mermaids are literally learning in fun ways from their teacher.

    Each episode is 23 minutes long. Bubble Guppies is another interactive show that tries to pull in the viewer as a participant. I feel that this show is very stimulating. The music is very upbeat and the colors are very vibrant. The show has a lot of value, although I got tired of watching the same 20 episodes that are free over and over. I feel like Bubble Guppies is best for an older preschooler or Kindergarten aged child.

    Creative Galaxy

    Only 2 seasons are available on Amazon Prime. Creative Galaxy first aired in 2013 and has 3 seasons. My oldest is the only one that really watched this series. Of course, she’s also my arts and crafts girl, so it makes sense she liked it. This show is all about art and creativity. The main character solves problems through art-literally. The show has good values is not too fast paced.

    Each episode is 30 minutes long and is broken up into 2 segments.  This show is only low on our list because only one of my girls watched it, and she didn’t watch it very much. I believe she only went through the available episodes once. The show encourages creativity, but do to the focus on art, some kids might not enjoy it. I do enjoy the music, and gives me the same vibes as the opening sequence from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

    Do, Re & Mi

    There is only one season of Do, Re & Mi.  The series premiered in 2021 and has 26 episodes. Again, my oldest was the only one that watched this show. My two younger ones have never really gotten into it. As the title suggests, the show is very musically oriented. There is a lot of music in the show, and sometimes learning new songs is part of the plot. The show is about problem solving and friendship and working together.  The show is a bit simplistic, but that is a good thing sometimes with little kids. The main characters are an owl, a hummingbird, and a blue bird. They are voiced Kristen Bell, Jackie Tohn, and Luke Youngblood.

    Each episode is about 23 minutes long and is broken up into 2 segments.  This show promotes good values and the music is great for a preschool aged show. I don’t mind watching an episode here or there, but it’s not my favorite.  Do, Re & Mi is on the Honorable Mentions list pretty much because my kids never really got into it. However, I feel the show still has some merit.

    Super Wings

    Super Wings has 7 out of 8 seasons available for free on Amazon Prime. The series first aired in 2015 and is still running. All three of my girls have watched this show, although to varying degrees. My older two have liked it much more than my youngest. We have seen the first 5 seasons a few times, but the later seasons not so much. By the time those seasons rolled around, my two older kids had moved on to new shows. The characters of the show are transforming robot aircrafts.  The star of the show, Jet, is an airplane that travels around the world delivering packages to children. Something problem always comes up and one of Jet’s friends is called in to help solve it.  The show is heavily focused on problem solving and the culture and diversity around the world.

    Each episode is 12 minutes long. I like this show for the world and cultural focus.  I like that Jet calls for help, teaching kids it is okay to get help when they need it. However, it feels a bit too easy to me in a way. The problems are very straightforward and the solutions are not always creative.  I also feel the show can sometimes be a bit overstimulating or fast paced.  The show still has great value overall. While I can’t sit down with the kids to binge watch this show, I was fine watching a couple episodes at a time with them.

    Resources for Parents

    I am a huge fan of giving parents the tools to succeed. There is a great website out there for content reviews on media — Commonsensemedia.org. Here are the links to their reviews of each of these shows. Just note that you can only view a certain number free each month without paying. The cost is currently $3.99 per month, or 39.99 per year.

    Tumble Leaf

    If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

    Blue’s Clues & You

    Paw Patrol

    Bubble Guppies

    Creative Galaxy

    Do, Re & Mi

    Super Wings

    There are a couple of other blogs out there that have also compiled lists of good shows for young children. Our lists may be a little different. Every parent notices different things in media and has different rules.  Here are those websites.

    Theleadlearnermom.com website has a lot of resources for parents. Her focus is on homeschool.

    Treehouseschoolhouse.com also has a focus on homeschooling, and some about teaching your children about the bible.

    Read more
    A Physical Therapy Review of Circle J Ranch Park

    September 8, 2025

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    Sign identifying Circle J Ranch Park located within the City of Santa Clarita.

    A Physical Therapist's Review of Circle J Ranch Park

    Circle J Ranch Park is located in the Valencia and Newhall area. It is just one of more than 30 parks in Santa Clarita.  It offers a small playground and a walking loop surrounding a grassy expanse. This is not my family’s typical parks, but my girls had a good time here. As a physical therapist, I look for different things in parks than a typical parent. I look at the playground through an eye prioritizing development. When I came here  aimed to write a review of Circle J Ranch Park, I looked closely at the park as a whole, as well as each component of the park.

    I applied the lenses of pediatric physical therapist and mother of 3 together to create this review of Circle J Ranch Park.  With over 30 local parks to choose from, what makes Circle J Ranch Park worth it?  Or is Circle J Ranch Park not the right fit for your family. Whether you are new to the area, new to parenting, or just looking to mix up playtime, this review of Circle J Ranch Park can provide you insight.

    Quick Summary

    Circle J Ranch Park offers a decent variety within it’s play structure, despite the structure’s small size. There is a decent amount of shade, and a large grassy area. There is a walking loop that is popular with dog owners. However, there is a shortage of seating for parents, and when we went the drinking fountain was not functioning. Continue reading the detailed review of Circle J Ranch Park for more insights and information.

    Benefits

    • Great park for toddlers to work on climbing, walking, and slides
    • Terrain: tree roots, pour-in-place rubber, sand, grass, and cement
    • Bucket and standard swings
    • Lots of wide open grassy area
    • Decent amount of shade
    • Elements for both older children and young ones

    Drawbacks

    • Not much seating
    • Monkey bars are pretty high off the ground
    • Slides are fairly small
    • No sidewalk for safety in walking from the parking lot

    A Closer Look: My Review of Circle J Ranch Park

    The Basics

    A father and daughter sit at picnic table covered by a shingled gazebo at Circle J Ranch Park.

    A father and daughter sit at picnic table covered by a shingled gazebo at Circle J Ranch Park.

    Circle J Ranch Park is a small park located on Via Pricessa. You have to flip a u-turn in order to get in if you are turning left.  There is a dedicated parking lot. You have to walk through the parking lot without a sidewalk in order to get to the park. There is a nice walking loop at the park that is popular with dog owners.

    Amenities

    Circle J Ranch Park has a little gazebo covering a picnic table adjacent to the playground. It also provides a nice walking loop on the other side of the restrooms.

    Location

    22651 Via Princessa Santa Clarita, CA 91350

    The Good Stuff

    Circle J Ranch Park offers an expansive green space with a walking loop that is a quarter of a mile.  There is shade over both the picnic table and play structure. There is a hill next to the gazebo that offers tree roots and a cement border you can use as a makeshift inclined balance beam. The play structure offers challenges for kids of many ages despite it’s small size.

    The Drawbacks

    This play structure is fairly small, so if the park is busy it will feel crowded.  The area around the playground is mostly sand. If you do not want to deal with the sand, this is not the place to go. Aside from the one picnic table, there isn’t really any seating available. When we went, the drinking fountain was broken. It could have been fixed by now, but make sure you bring water in case.

    The Play Structure

    The shaded play structure at Circle J Ranch Park includes 3 slides surrounded by sand.

    The shaded play structure at Circle J Ranch Park includes 3 slides surrounded by sand.

    The play structure is surrounded by sand, except for on one side where there is a little rubber. The 2 bucket swings also have some rubber flooring.  There are 3 slides. The short double slide ends on the rubber. The spiral and bumpy slides both end in the sand.

    There are 2 flights of stairs for access to the structure. The one on the left, closest to the gazebo is quite steep, and a toddler will struggle with it. The two other means of climbing include a ladder and what I call a column ladder.

    For bigger kids, this play structure incorporates both a set of monkey bars and a set of monkey bar rings, but they are fairly high off the ground.  There is also a fireman’s pole. The bridge to get from one side of the structure to the other is not a solid one, but one of those unstable ones that will rock up and down a tiny bit. The swings include 2 standard and 2 bucket swings.

    Insights for Parents

    A girl swings while crossing ring shaped monkey bars at Circle J Ranch Park.

    A girl swings while crossing ring shaped monkey bars at Circle J Ranch Park.

    Circle J Ranch has elements geared across the age range.  The sand and grass can be great practice for new walkers.  A monkey bar elements are pretty high off the ground, so young children will need to be supervised.  There is a 0.25 mile loop at the park if you want to add a walk to your time here. This park seems pretty quiet, but is also popular with dog owners who will bring their dogs here for a walk. Be aware that there is a sign posted at the park warning of rattlesnakes.

    A Physical Therapy Perspective

     

    Circle J Ranch Park has a little bit for everyone.  The ladders are pretty short, so don’t offer a lot of benefit for older children to practice, but are great for a little one just learning to climb. The two varieties of monkey bar offer different challenges for older children. The walking loop at the park is great for building walking endurance. One of my favorite things here is the hillside just next to the gazebo. There are roots in the grass and a strip of cement that can be used as a balance beam. The slides are on the smaller side, which is great for young children and allow parent’s to easily help their children keep balanced.

    Parks Nearby in the Newhall, CA Area

    Read our review of Newhall Park. (1.7 miles)

    Read our review of the Newhall Community Center. (2.3 miles)

    Read our review of Creekview Park. (2.9 miles)

    Valencia Glen Park (1.5 miles)

    Valencia Meadows Park (1.7 miles)

    Old Orchard Park (2 miles)

    Almendra Park (2.3 miles)

    Summit Park (2.5 miles)

    Resources

    See the City’s website for their listing of amenities and location.

    Sunlight and Snapshots of Circle J Ranch Park

    Read more
    A Physical Therapy Review of Chesebrough Park

    August 17, 2025

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    Sign designating Chesebrough Park in the City of Santa Clarita.

    A Physical Therapist's Review of Chesebrough Park

    Chesebrough Park is located in the Saugus area. It is just one of more than 30 parks in Santa Clarita. It offers a large playground with 2 play structures and a large amount of grass.  One of my favorite features of this park is that the design allows families to walk to the park easily. As a physical therapist, I look for different things in parks than a typical parent. I look at the playground through an eye prioritizing development. When I came here aimed to write a review of Chesebrough Park, I looked closely at the park as a whole, as well as each component of the park.

    I applied the lenses of pediatric physical therapist and mother of 3 together to create this review of Chesebrough Park.  With over 30 local parks to choose from, what makes Chesebrough Park worth it?  Or is it not the right fit for your family. Whether you are new to the area, new to parenting, or just looking to mix up playtime, this review of Chesebrough Park can provide you insight.

    Quick Summary

    Chesebrough Park has a good amount of shade throughout the park, but the bid kids play structure is not well shaded. There are 2 separate play structures. However, they are both on the small side. Therefore, the play area can feel crowded if enough people are there. They play structure has an unusual monkey bar setup that is not found elsewhere in Santa Clarita. The park layout allows people to walk to it easily. Continue reading the detailed review of Chesebrough Park for more insights and information.

    Benefits

    • Pedestrian bridge
    • Adaptive swings
    • Lots of  shade on the grassy areas
    • Play structures are near the baseball diamond
    • Atypical monkey bar setup

    Drawbacks

    • Sand lies underneath the woodchips
    • Big kid play structure and swings are not well shaded
    • Play structures are a bit small in size

    A Closer Look: My Review of Chesebrough Park

    The Basics

    Chesebrough Park was originally built in 2002. It was named after local landowner and Rancher Robert Newhall Chesebrough, who was a descendant of Henry Mayo Newhall. He left much his estate to the hospital when he died in 1996. The city renovated the park in 2014. It is located off McBean Parkway. This park is popular with local families. There is a pedestrian bridge leading into the park that crosses McBean Pkwy that allows locals to walk or ride to the park.  There is a dedicated parking lot, and there are a few shady parking spots.

    Amenities

    Chesebrough Park offers a baseball diamond with bleachers. There is a cluster of covered several picnic tables next to a barbecue and the restrooms.  There are also a couple other square picnic tables elsewhere in the park. The drinking fountain near the baseball diamond includes a water bottle refill station and pet bowl. Additionally, there is a second drinking fountain near the picnic tables.

    Location

    23505 Sunset Hills Dr. Santa Clarita, CA 91354

    The Good Stuff

    Chesebrough Park offers 2 play structures geared towards different ages.  There are 2 adaptive swings in addition to a couple of standard swings and 1 bucket swing. The play structures have a variety of climbing elements, some of which are not available at other parks. My oldest daughter spent a lot of time on the spinning seat near the small play structure. A canopy decently shades the small play structure. Additionally, there is a decent amount of shaded grassy area throughout the park. Some trees provide shade for 3 benches near the play structures. One of the highlights of our trip was the nearby pedestrian bridge. My children thought is was so cool to be above the cars.

    The Drawbacks

    The small canopies barely provide any shade to the big kids play structure. There is no shade at all for the swings. While there are plenty of trees in the area, none of them provide shade to the play area. Subsequently, most of the families that were there with us left around lunch time as it was getting too hot. The terrain around the play area is wood chips. However, when they added the woodchips, they did not remove the sand underneath. You can often see it peeking through, especially when children are digging.  Additionally, the play structure for little kids is pretty small.

    The Play Structures

    There are 2 play structures. The play structure geared towards young children (under 5) has 1 very small slide. For climbing up, there is a short crawl through tunnel and 2 different ladders.  One of the ladders has chains on the side of 3 rungs. There are a few wide stairs leading up to the slide.

    The play structure for the big kids is not very big. However, it still provides a good variety of elements. There are a lot of stairs. This is not an adaptive structure. There is a side stepping rock wall.  The monkey bar variation has handle bars coming off either side of a central support. There are 2 slides: 1 tall curved slide and 1 tall double slide. There is a random rope coming off one of the platforms, and I was unsure what exactly it was there for. There is also an arched ladder to climb.

    Insights for Parents

    Chesebrough Park is great for children of all ages. However, the play structures are a bit on the smaller size, so if the park is crowded, the kids will feel it. The great thing is that the playground is close to the baseball diamond. Consequently, this allows families with small children who are attending games to be near both at the same time. Our favorite feature is the nearby pedestrian bridge. My children sat on the bridge for 30 minutes counting cars. They would have stayed longer if they could. If you have a little one who loves cars this is a great place to go. There is a sidewalk that circles outside the park, so if you want to go for a walk with the kids, you can.

    A Physical Therapy Perspective

    Chesebrough Park is great for local families. The play structures are a bit small, so if there are a lot of kids, it can feel crowded. There is a good variety of swings available — although only one bucket swing. There is very little shade to the big kid play structure, but it does have enough to keep kids occupied. Our favorite thing about Chesebrough Park is the pedestrian bridge leading right into the playground area.  My kids will sit there and count cars or identify colors all day. One of the best things about Chesebrough park is that it allows for easy access by pedestrians. There is even one of those spinning seats which can help for children who are sensory seekers. It is also great for working on body awareness and balance.

    Parks Nearby in the Saugus, CA Area

    Read our review of Santa Clarita Park (2.1 miles)

    Read our review of Pamplico Park (2.4 miles)

    Read our review of Pacific Crest Park (2.7 miles)

    Copper Hill Park. (2.9 miles away)

    Central Park. (3.3 miles away)

    Bouquet Canyon Park (4.2 miles)

    Duane R Harte Park (4.7 miles)

    David March Park. (4.8 miles away)

    Golden Valley Park (5.4 miles)

    Circle J Ranch (5.7 miles)

    Resources

    See the City’s website for their listing of amenities and location.

    Sunlight and Snapshots of Chesebrough Park

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    A Physical Therapy Review of Bouquet Canyon Park

    July 28, 2025

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    Sign identifying Bouquet Canyon Park located within the City of Santa Clarita.

    A Physical Therapist's Review of Bouquet Canyon Park

    Bouquet Canyon Park is located in the Saugus area. It is just one of more than 30 parks in Santa Clarita. It offers a large playground with 2 play structures, an abundance of shade, and a large amount of grass. When we are up for traveling a little further afield, this is one of our favorite parks. As a physical therapist, I look for different things in parks than a typical parent. I look at the playground through an eye prioritizing development. When I came here aimed to write a review of Bouquet Canyon Park, I looked closely at the park as a whole, as well as each component of the park.

    I applied the lenses of pediatric physical therapist and mother of 3 together to create this review of Bouquet Canyon Park.  With over 30 local parks to choose from, what makes Bouquet Canyon Park worth it?  Or is it not the right fit for your family. Whether you are new to the area, new to parenting, or just looking to mix up playtime, this review of Bouquet Canyon Park can provide you insight.

    Quick Summary

    Bouquet Canyon Park is well shaded and has a good amount of grass. There are 2 separate play structures geared towards children over or under age 5. There is a great variety on the play structure. While there aren’t many benches, there is a long brick wall which can serve as a substitute balance beam and seating. Inclusive elements have been included in this recently renovated playground. Continue reading the detailed review of Bouquet Canyon Park for more insights and information.

    Benefits

    • Great park for all ages
    • Inclusive elements
    • Focus on climbing
    • There are 2 second-story slides
    • Well shaded
    • Low brick wall

    Drawbacks

    • Terrain only includes pour-in-place rubber, cement, and grass
    • Lack of bucket and standard swings
    • Not a lot of benches near the playground

    A Closer Look: My Review of Bouquet Canyon Park

    The Basics

    Bouquet Canyon Park was originally build in 1996.  It is located in a quiet neighborhood off of Bouquet Canyon Rd.  You will turn into the neighborhood on Urbandale Ave.  Bouquet Canyon Park was recently renovated and repoened in 2024 with a new play structure and shades.  This park is located just 2 miles from the popular Central Park, and is a great alternative if you are looking for something a little less busy.  There is plenty of parking as there is a dedicated parking lot, and some of the spots are shaded depending on the time of day.

    Amenities

    Bouquet Canyon Park offers a full basketball court, a baseball diamond, and  pickleball and tennis courts. There are several picnic tables in a couple different locations and they can be reserved. As a bonus, there are also a couple barbecues.   There are restrooms at the park and the drinking fountain includes a water bottle refill station.

    Location

    28127 Wellston Dr. Santa Clarita, CA 91350

    The Good Stuff

    Bouquet Canyon Park offers a recently renovated space. Between the trees and canopies there is ample shade for most of the day.  There are 2 play structures geared towards different ages. The park offers a variety of sport courts for older children. Inclusive and adaptive elements are in several areas of the playground, allowing disabled children to play here as well. The play structures have a plethora of elements which are great for challenging climbing skills, balance, and coordination. There is even a rock wall and some tandem swings. A personal favorite of my children is the monorail.

    The Drawbacks

    The terrain types at Bouquet Canyon Park are limited-there is only grass, cement, and pour-in-place rubber.  Only tandem and adaptive swings are present. While this is great for children who want to swing together, there are not any regular swings for children who want to swing by themselves. Families with infants will also be disappointed in the lack of infant bucket swings.

    The Play Structures

    There are 2 play structures. The play structure geared towards young children (under 5) has 2 slides-one short and straight and the other a triple slide.  There are 2 stepping stones leading up to a regular ladder. A variation on a climbing wall that looks like rocks can give little ones a bit of a challenge. There is also a short climbing mountain with 3 short levels. A couple brief but straight flights of stairs (4 steps) lead into the structure and to the triple slide. The final ladder is a spiral platform ladder with 3 platforms.

    The play structure for the big kids is large and has a lot to offer. A variety of climbing options lead onto the first story of the play structure.  These include a geometric arch ladder, a spiral platform ladder, a natural climbing wall, horizontal rope webbing, stairs, and a cutout ladder. A tunnel, catwalk, and a rung bridge can be used to navigate to the various slides and areas of the structure. Attached to the structure is a set of regular monkey bars and an obstacle crossway. The big kids play structure has 4 slides. The two on the first story are a short straight slide, and a spiral slide.  After climbing the 3 rung ladder to the second story, children can go down one of 2 massive slides: 1 a spiral tube slide and the other a curved slide.

    Insights for Parents

    Bouquet Canyon Park is great for children of all ages. With a variety of sport courts, a large play structure for the big kids, and a small one for the little kids, it has something for everyone. While there aren’t a lot of benches, there is a long brick wall that parents often use instead. This park is outstanding for climbing!

    A Physical Therapy Perspective

    Bouquet Canyon Park is one I love as a PT.  The variety of ladders offers challenges on multiple levels. Anyone needing to work on climbing, leg strength, and coordination would benefit here. There’s even an actual rock wall. My favorite thing about Bouquet Canyon Park is the really long brick wall that spans one entire side of the park. This is great to practice foot placement and balance while using it like a balance beam. Kids can also work on sitting balance on the monorail. The tandem swings can be great for working on coordination and timing. There is even one of those spinning seats which can help for children who are sensory seekers.

    Parks Nearby in the Saugus, CA Area

    Read our review of Central Park. (2 miles away)

    Read our review of David March Park. (1.8 miles away)

    Read our review of Copper Hill Park. (1.4 miles away)

    Pamplico Park (2.2 miles)

    Santa Clarita Park (3.4 miles)

    Pacific Crest Park (3.5 miles)

    Golden Valley Park (3.8 miles)

    Chesebrough Park (4.2 miles)

    Duane R Harte Park (4.6 miles)

    Circle J Ranch (5.5 miles)

    Resources

    See the City’s website for their listing of amenities and location.

    Sunlight and Snapshots of Bouquet Canyon Park

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    A Physical Therapy Review of Almendra Park

    July 4, 2025

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    Sign identifying Almendra Park located within the City of Santa Clarita.

    A Physical Therapist's Review of Almendra Park

    Almendra Park is located in the Valencia area. It is just one of more than 30 parks in Santa Clarita.  It offers a small playground and a large grassy expanse. While this park is not one my family regularly visits, I have brought patients here as a physical therapist. When assessing a location as a physical therapist, I look for different things in parks than a parent typically would. I look at the playground through an eye prioritizing development. When I came here aimed to write a review of Almendra Park, I looked closely at the park as a whole, as well as each component of the park.

    I applied both the lenses of pediatric physical therapist and mother of 3 together to create this unique review of Almendra Park.  With over 30 local parks to choose from, what makes Almendra Park worth it?  Is Almendra Park the right fit for your family. Whether you are new to the area, new to parenting, or just looking to mix up playtime, this review of Almendra Park can provide you insight.

    Quick Summary

    While Almendra Park offers a variety of terrain types, a decent amount of shade, and a large grassy area, parents will find it lacking in a few things.  These include a shortage of seating for parents, a short play structure, and lastly, a lack of restrooms.  Almendra Park is recommended for children under 5 years old. Continue reading the detailed review of Almendra Park for more insights and details.

    Benefits

    • Great park for toddlers, new walkers, and preschoolders
    • Terrain: tree roots, pour-in-place rubber, wood chips, sand, grass, and cement
    • Bucket and standard swings
    • Lots of wide open grassy area
    • Decent amount of shade

    Drawbacks

    • Not much seating
    • Play structure is too short for older children
    • No bathrooms
    • Street parking only

    A Closer Look: My Review of Almendra Park

    The Basics

    Almendra Park is one of the 8 original parks in Santa Clarita when it was incorporated and was built in 1983. It is located in the Valencia area. For those who live behind Granary Square, Almendra Park is centrally located within walking distance for many. Almendra Park offers an expansive green space and lots of trees. Additionally, a walking path — what the locals call a Paseo— runs along the back side of the park. There is not a parking lot, so street parking is your only option.

    Amenities

    Almendra Park offers a full basketball court for those who want to shoot hoops. There is also a cement picnic table and a bench located near the  playground.

    Location

    23420 Alta Madera Drive Santa Clarita, CA 91355

    The Good Stuff

    On the positive side, Almendra Park offers an expansive green space with lots of trees. If you are looking for a park in Santa Clarita for toddlers, this is a great place.  New walkers can test their skills on multiple terrains. Almendra Park offers wood chips, sand, grass, sidewalk, and pour-in-place rubber (the colorful rubber flooring). With an abundance of trees, there are even a few tree roots they can tackle. The play area has both standard swings for children, as well as bucket swings for infants.

    The Drawbacks

    Non-locals should be aware that there are no bathrooms located at this park. The playground area is more geared towards younger children.  Older children (8 years old/3rd grade) will find the play structure a bit on the small side.  While there is an eagle’s nest present, children around 48 inches will find it a bit small as they will be able to easily reach the top. Additionally, there is also a lack of seating and tables.

    The play structure we reviewed at Almendra Park.
    The play structure we reviewed at Almendra Park.

    The Play Structure

    In and near the sand area are 3 dinosaurs for climbing. They are fairly easy to get on and off of for tall children, but offer a little challenge for small children and new climbers.

    The play structure has 3 slides: 1 bumpy, 1 double, and 1 spiral. They are all on the short side, again more geared to younger children. There are 2 short climbing ladders: a corkscrew ladder, and an arch. There is a very short tunnel underneath for crawling through. The best feature is the stairs.  There are 2 ways to climb up. The first is a higher step to work on climbing. The second is a regular flight of stairs with a hand hold. A small arched bridge connects the ladders to the slide area.

    Insights for Parents

    Almendra Park is geared towards young children—mostly preschool age and younger. However, there is a basketball court and an abundance of grassy area that older children can use. There is a loop of sidewalk around the edge of the park tied to the paseos.  The walking loop is 0.3 miles according to mypacer.com

    Two of my daughters sitting on a bench under the Almendra Park play structure.
    Two of my daughters sitting on a bench under the Almendra Park play structure.

    A Physical Therapy Perspective

     

    Almendra Park isn’t the best for older children—the ladders and slides are too short. However, it is an awesome place to bring new walkers and toddlers learning to climb. The sidewalk loop around the park is great for building walking endurance. The climbing step is great, but the stairs turn makes it challenging to work on alternating feet. The park offers every type of terrain to challenge those just learning to walk, including on and off small curbs. Additionally, the slides are short enough that parents can easily assist from the side. The eagle’s nest offers a good challenge for little climbers.

    While the options at Almendra Park are limited, if you can’t get to another park or live nearby, it can still provide some fun and exercise.

    Parks Nearby in the Valencia, CA Area

    Read our review of Valencia Glen Park. (0.5 miles away)

    Read our review of Summit Park. (1.1 miles away)

    Read our review of Valencia Meadows Park. (1.1 miles away)

    Old Orchard Park (2.3 miles)

    Circle J Ranch (2.5 miles)

    Valencia Heritage Park (3 miles)

    Bridgeport Park (3.3 miles)

    West Creek Park (5.7 miles)

    Resources

    See the City’s website for their listing of amenities and location.

    Sunlight and Snapshots of Almendra Park

    Read more