Irvine has long been celebrated for its park system – a network of greenbelts, community parks and open spaces that define the city’s landscape. Many offer barbecue pits and sports fields; several boast extensive playing fields; and all provide calm respites from the consuming pressures of daily life. Here are parks with unique perks, plus a progress report on what could be the city’s largest nature park.
Jeffrey Open Space Trail
Breath of fresh air in the heart of Irvine
Jeffrey Open Space Trail provides nearly 5 miles of hiking and biking trails under the shade of sycamores, alongside a creek bed and past boulders interspersed with native plants. Paved, with very mild inclines, this linear park is ideal for a workout before or after a day at the office. Anyone using strollers, walkers or wheelchairs can enjoy the ease of its wide winding paths. Benches provide places to rest or sit with friends and chat. Glimpses of squirrels, rabbits and lizards enliven visitors’ days and delight youngsters. Well-maintained and dog-friendly, this is an ideal place for families to relax.
Deerfield community park
Disc golf delights devotees
Disc golf is a game in which a plastic disc resembling a Frisbee is thrown into each of a series of metal baskets on an outdoor course, the object being to complete the course in the fewest possible throws. It’s the kind of activity that encourages camaraderie among players and brings together people of all ages. Deerfield Community Park provides an above-par course for aficionados, who might decide before or after a game to make the most of the fitness course that the park also offers or play volleyball, tennis or racquetball. Less-active visitors might choose to browse the Little Free Library or watch their children play in the tot lots.
TURTLE ROCK community park
Natural choice for all ages
Turtle Rock Community Park and its accompanying nature center provide educational opportunities for casual visitors as well as a resource for parents and teachers who want to alert children to the beauty of our habitat – and help them understand what they can do to preserve its integrity. The self-guided nature trail functions as an outdoor classroom
(guided tours are also available). It offers a peaceful oasis to observe the birds, lizards, rabbits and other critters that inhabit our coastal sagebrush. The nature center – where Eagle Scouts designed the native plant garden and labyrinth and where Boy and Girl Scouts can earn badges – is a great community resource.
BLUE GUM park
Beloved shady retreat
Blue Gum Park is best known for the many trees that provide shade for playgrounds and cool places to spend sunny days reading or simply watching the passing show. The playground’s clubhouse feature is a favorite for kids who like to play restaurant or cooking games. It’s a tranquil gem of a park with walking trails, picnic areas and a sand volleyball court for not-so-lazy weekend days. A manicured lawn is a great spot for simple ballgames.
ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
Heaven on earth for youngsters
A fort. Mud. Sand pits. Does it get any better than this for a kid? Adventure Playground provides all the elements that help build imaginary worlds, including play structures, water, slides and giant building blocks. How often do youngsters get to run around in such a carefree manner?
No need for play dates – playmates come with the territory. Designed for children between the ages of 5 and 12, this is paradise in the shape of a park, where imagination runs free. There’s even a wash station to clean happy kids’ faces and hands at the end of the day.
HARVARD COMMUNITY park
Haven for sports lovers
Covering nearly 30 acres, Harvard Community Park offers extensive facilities for soccer and baseball, as well as four lighted batting cages and a skate park. A concession stand provides snacks and drinks for those participating in team games. Ideal for get-togethers – and dog‑friendly – the park offers a kitchen and multipurpose room, as well as baseball diamonds that can be reserved for family or group functions. The open space connects to the 22-mile Mountains to Sea Trail, providing a place for hikers and bikers to rest their weary legs as they seek to complete their trek from Orange to Newport Beach. Harvard Community Center offers evening educational programs.
SWEET SHADE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
Sensory enrichment in a social setting
Programs at this unique park include a variety of activities for individuals with sensory, physical or cognitive disabilities and their families. The focus is on inclusiveness, with the apt theme “A Space for Everyone.” The universal playground is wheelchair accessible and includes adaptive swings and Bankshot Basketball, which features creatively angled, curved and uniquely configured basketball backboards. There’s a garden where the focus is on scent and touch as much as sight. There’s also a kitchen where people can practice their culinary skills. However unique your physical or mental makeup, there’s fun to be had here.
NORTHWOOD COMMUNITY park
Fit for queens and kings
Also known as Castle Park, kids will find a kingdom of creativity, where castle structures provide a foundation for hours of make-believe fun. The medieval fortress dominates the park, but there are plenty of modern amenities all around it, including the playground with rubberized play surfaces and soccer fields.
MASON REGIONAL park
From sailboats to sand volleyball, this park has it all
Mason Regional Park provides a fount of fun for people of all ages. Behold the wonder in the eyes of toddlers as they watch model sailboats race each other across the 9-acre lake, zigzagging past startled ducks and coots. Preteens test their ball-tending skills on expansive grassy areas. Families and friends gather at movies
and concerts in summer. Hikers and bikers enjoy wilderness trails alongside avid birders and parents pushing strollers. Office workers on breaks cool off in shady areas or watch sand volleyball games or softball. There’s something for everyone here in the heart of Irvine.
MIKE WARD COMMUNITY park
Pickleball players’ paradise
Eight new pickleball courts at Mike Ward Community Park in Woodbridge make it the ideal place for the popular sport. The pock-pock of the paddles hitting the ball and joyful shouts as points are won provide a rhythmic background sound by day while concerts fill the air at other times. Picnics are perfect ways to gather friends after games or before the music starts. The park has shelters with the capacity to host up to 75 picnickers.
HERITAGE park
Sun‑filled place to socialize
Heritage Park is a marvelous mecca: There’s plentiful open space along with aquatic facilities and a cultural center offering classes designed to enrich the minds and lives of locals of all ages. Three pools, 29 picnic tables and 22 barbecue grills provide perfect settings for family and group celebrations. On weekends, the air is filled with happy shrieks and shouts of encouragement as kids and adults compete on 23 playing fields and courts of all kinds, from basketball to tennis to volleyball to soccer to racquetball. Whatever your passion, you’re likely to find fellow aficionados here. This expansive park and educational center is a hub where the community gathers to make friends and enjoy a sense of well-being.
