Minaya Park in Mission Viejo: Tire Swing, Helicopter Seeds, and a Rainbow

Minaya Park in Mission Viejo is not what I’d call a “destination playground” – but every park has its good points. This one is centered in a quiet neighborhood.  There are all sorts of birds flitting through the trees and nice shade for picnics.

Location: From Interstate 5, exit at Alicia Parkway and head towards the foothills. You will drive up Alicia quite a ways.  Turn left at Lake Mission Viejo on Marguerite Parkway.  Pass Vista del Lago and make your next right onto Alarcon.  Take the 2nd left onto Minaya and the park will be on your left. (Address: 27552 Minaya, Mission Viejo) MAP TO MINAYA PARK IN MISSION VIEJO

Highlights:

• It’s a bare bones, simple neighborhood park. However, if you’re in the neighborhood then it’s nice for a picnic or some sand play.
• There’s lots of grass surrounding the playground and beautiful trees for shade.
• It’s the perfect park to do some “nature exploring” by seeing what you can see at the edges of the park and in the trees.
• On our visit during the summer, there were helicopter seeds on the grass for tossing into the air and watching them spin on their way down (Joel from Naturalist-for-You first showed us this trick)
• The tire swing is really low to the ground
• 2 of those sit-on digger contraptions
• 2 baby swings

Be Aware:

• This is more of a “quick play” stop
• Not ideal for younger kids – but it’s easy to supervise them up close because there’s not really many railings.
• Very young kids can’t climb from one side of equipment to other without having to tackle climbing “over the rainbow.”
• No restrooms

Checklist:

• Parking on the street
• Play surface: Sand
• NO restrooms
• Drinking fountain
• Grass volleyball court
• Official City of Mission Viejo website
• Nearest public libraries:  Mission Viejo or Foothill Ranch or Rancho Santa Margarita (none are very close to this park)

Nearby parks:

• Melinda Park
• Aurora Park
• Seville Park

*Added to KaBOOM.org as part of their 2011 Park-A-Day Challenge