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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Basics

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.