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.

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.

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.