Readers want to know about fenced parks and parks without sand — but this is the first time a reader requested to get a list of parks WITHOUT recycled rubber playground surfaces in Orange County. I could just as well have named this “parks WITH wood chips” or “sand-only parks.” But I suspect parents aren’t typing in those search terms. (I’ve found those who say they dislike sand and wood chips – actually DESPISE sand and wood chips)!
I can’t guarantee that these are all current, because when playgrounds are improved this type of surfacing is usually one of the first things to be added. So please help me keep this list up-to-date by reporting back on any play surface changes from when you are out playing. I’m going to list parks where roughly 90% of the play surface is not recycled rubber. Most have no rubber surfacing. A few have an accessible ramp made with the rubber material that leads down into the wood chip or sand play area.
Pictured above: Tamarisk Park in Lake Forest
Parks in North County:
- Ronald Reagan Park in Anaheim Hills (wood chips)
- Canyon Rim Park in Anaheim Hills (wood chips)
- Imperial Park in Anaheim Hills (wood chips)
- Peralta Canyon Park in Anaheim Hills (wood chips)
- Eucalyptus Park in Anaheim Hills (wood chips)
- Sycamore Park in Anaheim (wood chips)
- Rolling Hills Park in Fullerton (wood chips)
- Hillcrest Park in Fullerton (wood chips)
- Brush Canyon Park in Yorba Linda (wood chips)
- Bigonger Park in Yorba Linda (wood chips)
- Mustang Fields in Yorba Linda (wood chips)
Bigonger Park in Yorba Linda
Parks in Central County:
- Belmont Park in Orange (wood chips)
- Hart Park in Orange (wood chips)
- Eisenhower Park in Orange (wood chips)
- Grijalva Park in Orange (wood chips)
- La Veta Park in Orange (wood chips)
- Coastkeeper Natural Play Garden in Orange (wood chips & natural ground covering)
- Balboa Pier & Peninsula Park in Newport Beach (sand) – small section of rubber under slide
- 38th Street Park in Newport Beach (wood chips)
- Balearic Park in Costa Mesa (sand)
- Schiffer Park in Costa Mesa (wood chips)
- Smallwood Park in Costa Mesa (wood chips)
- Pioneer Road Park in Tustin (wood chips)
- Laurel Glen Park in Tustin (wood chips)
Pioneer Road Park in Tustin
Parks in South County:
- Springdale Park in Aliso Viejo (sand)
- Aliso Viejo Community Park (wood chips)
- Canyon View Park in Aliso Viejo (sand)
- Oak Park in Aliso Viejo (sand)
- Westridge Park in Aliso Viejo (sand)
- Creekside Park in Dana Point (wood chips & sand) – one separate section with rubber enclosed in toddler area
- Dana Crest Park in Dana Point (wood chips)
- Del Obispo Park in Dana Point (wood chips)
- Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach (wood chips & sand) – one separate section of rubber under metal slides
- Yosemite Park in Laguna Niguel (wood chips)
- Chapparosa Park in Laguna Niguel (wood chips)
- Borrego Park in Lake Forest (wood chips)
- Foothill Ranch Community Park (wood chips)
- Peachwood Park in Lake Forest (wood chips)
- Alton Park in Lake Forest (wood chips)
- Tamarisk Park in Lake Forest (wood chips)
- Cherry Park in Lake Forest (wood chips)
- Mountain View Park in Lake Forest (wood chips & sand)
- Rimgate Park in Lake Forest (wood chips & sand)
- Barcelona Park in Mission Viejo (sand)
- Christopher Park in Mission Viejo (sand)
- Marblehead Park in San Clemente (wood chips & sand)
- Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano (wood chips & sand)
Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano
Thanks to the readers who helped me come up with some of these parks for the list. Remember to leave a comment below if the play surface is different than what I’ve listed here.
Originally published in June 2017.
