Sweet Shade Park in Irvine with Universal Playground

Sweet Shade Park in Irvine has a brand new universal playground as of 2024! It’s tucked off Harvard Avenue near the Villages of Columbus neighborhood. 

Originally, the bright blue geometric play structure caught our eye as we drove by way back when the neighborhood was being built circa 2009. It’s still eye-catching with the addition of orange accents!

Now the the new universal playground section takes over the spot where the 2-5 year old play equipment used to stand. The new equipment has a space theme and even a sensory garden!

Directions to Sweet Shade Park in Irvine: It’s off Harvard Avenue which runs parallel to Jamboree Road. The easiest cut overs from Jamboree are Warner or Barranca. (15 Sweet Shade, Irvine) MAP to Sweet Shade Park in Irvine

Highlights:

It does live up to its name with a large shade tree, plus shade sails covering the main play equipment. It’s not completely shaded, but you can find some respite from the sun on hot days and during morning hours.

Nice mix of equipment for all ages and abilities! It’s one of the few playgrounds where older kids might get excited to climb and play.

The official press release says: “Wheelchair accessible with multigenerational play components to support usage by those with disabilities, as well as their parents and caregivers, the universal playground truly embodies its theme — ‘A Space for Everyone.‘”

The new universal playground, rated for 2-5 year olds or 5-12 year olds, is very interactive with panels that stimulate the senses and so many spots for all-ability play.

The swings are 3 baby swings and 1 swing-with-me baby swing. (I did hear they are waiting for one more adaptive swing to install.)

There is an adaptive basketball court with nets at varied heights and point games suggested with colorful art on the concrete.  It’s a Bankshot Basketball court with creatively angled, curved, and uniquely configured basketball backboards.

This is an all senses playground complete with a sensory garden and sandboxes/pathways with rock formations and plantings to make it feel like a moonscape in some spots. It’s really aesthetic!

Of course, there are ramps to access the majority of the play structure plus slides and lots of access and play points from the ground.

As those who are playing navigate the ramps, they’ll go through:

• Interactive panels
• Then a short slide off to the left
• More ramp
• A glider on the left and balancing bars off the structure to the right
• More ramp
• Turnaround point with a taller double slide, opening for steps, and little telescope for pretend play

Then the ramp ends where there are steps up to a two taller slides and more challenging climbing apparatus to reach the top or get down.

My kids always like the “clubhouse” pretend play and it was fun to see a way that friends in wheelchairs can join in for this version.

You can see the bongo drums here, and there are all sorts of other musical instruments scattered around the playground (xylophone, chimes, more drums).

When I first visited back in 2009, I was completely fascinated with the 5-12 year old play equipment which a reader, Laurie, told me is an Evos by Landscape Structures, Inc. (Thanks, Laurie!). I’m glad that part didn’t get changed much. So if you loved it, it’s still there.

You’ll look at it and think “What can I do with this?” It inspires you to jump in and crawl around. My 4 year old loved it. This is the area with the swings, as well.

The play and movement can continue on the quarter mile walking loop on sidewalk around the grassy area in the park. If you start from the playground and go clockwise the mile markers will read: 1/16 mile, 1/8 mile, 3/16 mile, and finally 1/4 mile. I guess it’s a good lesson in fractions and distance, too?

I loved the picnic area here with its huge grills. It looked like a nice place for a family picnic at sunset.

Beautiful landscaping and basketball courts past the Ability Center.

Look at how big the trees have grown (above in 2024) since 2009 (below)!

Everyone will be happy that there are restrooms, but I know some of you will be thrilled to learn that there is a restroom right next to the playground with an adult changing area.

Sweet Shade is a 7.9-acre public neighborhood park and home to Sweet Shade Ability Center, where the City’s Disability Services program provides activities for individuals with sensory, physical, or cognitive disabilities, and their family members. The creation of the City’s first universal playground complements the Ability Center and will expand inclusive recreational opportunities for all Irvine residents.

Be Aware:

• Restrooms at the back of the ability center building and at the new restroom building at the playground.
• There is a smaller playground across Marble Mountain – but a sign says it’s for residents only.
• Obviously, the blue structure is designed for kids over 5. A little extra supervision will be needed for the littlest ones using it.
• The universal playground structure is relatively close to the ground compared to other play structures, but once you climb stairs at the end of the ramps there are some steep drop points for little ones!
• The sand on the recycled rubber can be slippery, so watch your step!
• On the morning I visited, the playground had a nice layer of dew on the equipment which made everything slippery and the slides wet. You may want to remember to bring a towel if you go early in the day!

Checklist:

• Recycled rubber and sand play surface
• Dedicated parking lot
• Restrooms are right on the playground large enough for families and with signs for gender neutral and some with adult changing tables.
• Also restrooms at the back of the clubhouse building closer to the basketball courts
• Drinking fountains
• Very nice covered picnic area with massive charcoal grills
• 2 full size basketball courts
• Make facility reservations through the City of Irvine
• Nearest public library: University Park Library or Heritage Park Library

Parks nearby Sweet Shade Park in Irvine:

• Colonel Bill Barber Memorial Park
• Plaza Park
• University Community Park

Originally posted in October 2009.

Photo Archive of OLD Playground (pre-2024)

The 5-12 year old play area looks much the same, just refreshed. But the 2-5 year old play area used to look futuristic/nautical with 4 baby swings (two types).  The playground manufacturer was Kompan which you can find on a smaller scale at Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach. It had pitchers to scoop sand and many small stations for imaginative play.