Crown Valley Park: Seeing the Forest for the Splash Pad

Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel sports a new forest theme and splash pad thanks to a total renovation in Winter/Spring 2015 which now includes an amphitheater, restroom building, splash pad and new forest-themed play equipment. The City of Laguna Niguel calls it a “sprayground.”

Directions to Crown Valley Community Park Splash Pad: From the Interstate 5, take the Crown Valley offramp and drive toward the beach. Pass over Moulton and La Paz — but make a right into the YMCA parking lot before you hit Niguel Road. If you are coming from PCH, it’s the first left past Niguel Road. [Address: 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel] MAP to Crown Valley Community Park in Laguna Niguel

Highlights:

• Free! With all the amenities of a true community park
• Forest animal theme is very cute complete with a pretty artistic inlay in the sidewalk at the entrance gate
• Two play structures – both have interactive nature sound boards
  • Smaller one is near the restroom building with logs and a bobcat
  • Larger one has curvy slides and monkey bars and rocks to climb – with some higher drops near the ladders
• Playground slides are especially fun when kids are wet from the sprayground
• Lovely to have Niguel Botanical Preserve is so close with trees and trails right beside the upper level of this park. The nature trail – what an adventure!! The kids led us all around the hillside. Absolutely amazing! You can see the care every volunteer put into it. Lots of lizards, rabbits, and squirrels – plus beautiful flowers. We entered the preserve right above the playground. Not too steep of an ascent to the top.
• Combine a playground trip with a library trip to the Laguna Niguel Public Library right down Crown Valley towards the beach

Sprayground (open Memorial Day to Labor Day – consult official website for hours):

• Children under 10 must be directly supervised by an adult
• Two lifeguards on duty when we went
• Water at sprayground is recirculated and filtered – so it’s drought-friendly but not okay to drink
• Wet concrete surface can be slippery — go barefoot or wear water shoes
• Fun for all ages, even babies (must wear swim diapers and plastic pants if not potty-trained)

Be Aware:

• Shade structures limited to four tables tables on upper level by sprayground. No shade on lower level by playgrounds.
• Stairs and long accessible ramp from lower to upper level.
• Sprayground is only open during the summer
• It is near the parking lot, but there are perimeter fences
• This community park is the site of concerts and many parks and recreation activities. Check the calendar if you are crowd averse.
• No swings (baby or otherwise)

Checklist:

• Dedicated parking lot shared with the entire community complex which includes a pool, amphitheater and sports fields
• Play surface: Recycled rubber on playground
• Restrooms
  • Two regular stalls (unisex)
  • Two accessible stalls (men or women)
  • Key code locks on each stall door accessible individually from outside
  • Key code is posted on each door with instructions to knock before entering
  • Faucet to wash hands is outside the building
• Plenty of picnic tables and seating on low planter walls
• Shaded picnic tables nearer to the park entrance by the amphitheater
• Community pool, sports fields, bike path
• Official City of Laguna Niguel website for Crown Valley Community Park
• Nearest public library branch: Laguna Niguel

Nearby parks:

• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• La Hermosa Park

Photos and park report courtesy of Karen Geraci & Family, Volunteer Park Reporters