Spyglass Reservoir Park in Newport Beach sits on top of an actual reservoir! I didn’t know there was a “101 foot diameter and 27 foot deep reservoir . . . under the playground park.”
Directions to Spyglass Reservoir Park: This is only a few blocks from Spyglass Hill Park – even higher up the hill! Reach San Joaquin Hills Road from either MacArthur or Jamboree and head up the hill towards Newport Coast. Turn left on Spy Glass Hill Road. The park ahead on your right at the corner of El Capitan Drive is Spyglass Hill Park — but you will need to go a little further to get to Spyglass Reservoir Park. Go up El Capitan Drive, turn right at Point Arguello, right on Drake’s Bay which will wind around like a snail shell turning into Goleta Point Drive until you turn left onto Muir Beach Circle. The park is a the dead end of Muir Beach Circle. (Address: 21 Muir Beach Circle, Newport Beach) MAP TO SPYGLASS RESERVOIR PARK
Highlights:
- This is a quiet park in the middle of a neighborhood
- No shade, but it’s pretty cool because of sea breezes and proximity to the coast
- More modern playground, but nothing special
- Kids will like the wide open feeling and the clubhouse!
- Parents will like that it’s easy to see the kids from all angles
- Main playground structure has a few slides and interesting tunnels where kids need to use their motor skills to get across the play structure between slides
- A curvy slide and a short double slide
- 4 kid teeter totter
- Small grassy areas
- It has a water refill station for water bottles, plus 2 drinking fountains for people, and one water reservoir for dogs
- 2 bench swings, 2 baby swings
Be Aware:
- NO restroom
- Younger kids will like this play equipment better than older kids
- If you are coming from a hot inland spot, bring a jacket because it may be foggy and chilly here
- This neighborhood has mounted video cameras and notices about you being on surveillance as soon as you enter the surrounding streets.
Checklist:
- Parking on the street
- Play surface: Sand with shell pieces and recycled rubber
- Drinking fountain with water bottle refill
- One picnic table and a few benches
- Official City of Newport Beach website for Spyglass Reservoir Park
- Nearest public library branch: Newport Beach Public Library
Parks Nearby Spyglass Reservoir Park in Newport Beach:
Originally published in April 2019.
