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Sweet Shade Park in Irvine

Sweet Shade Park in Irvine

Sweet Shade Park is one of Irvine’s city parks. It’s tucked off Harvard Avenue near the Villages of Columbus neighborhood. 

The bright blue geometric play structure caught our eye as we drove by back when the neighborhood was being built.

sweet shade park big kid play equipment

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

sweet shade park baby swings

Highlights:

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

This combination of equipment is unique. The 2-5 year old area looked futuristic/nautical with 4 baby swings (two types).  The playground manufacturer is Kompan which is used on a smaller scale at Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach. It had pitchers to scoop sand and many small stations for imaginative play.

I was completely fascinated with the 5-12 year old play equipment which commenter Laurie tells me is an Evos by Landscape Structures, Inc. (Thanks, Laurie!). 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. There are 4 bench swings in this area.

sweet shade park playground

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 small clubhouse (residents only).

Shades over the playground, but it looked more decorative than functional. However, it’s probably great for lunchtime play when the sun is directly overhead.

There is a smaller playground across Marble Mountain – but a sign says it’s for residents.

sweet shade park little kid playground

Be Aware:

  • Restrooms at the back of the clubhouse building, but may be locked.
  • Obviously, the blue structure is designed for kids over 5. A little extra supervision will be needed for the littlest ones using it.
  • Smaller playground across the street warns that it’s for “residents only”
  • There used to be a slide with no sideguards, but it’s no longer there.
sweet shade park climbing rings

Checklist:

  • Recycled rubber and sand play surface
  • Dedicated parking lot
  • Restrooms at the back of the clubhouse building – but may be locked
  • Drinking fountains
  • Very nice covered picnic area with massive charcoal grills
  • 2 basketball courts
  • Make facility reservations through the City of Irvine
  • Nearest public library: University Park Library

Parks nearby Sweet Shade Park in Irvine:

Originally posted in October 2009.

Sweet Shade Park in Irvine

Farhaana

Friday 29th of June 2012

You may want to mention in the main review that there are bathrooms available. Otherwise, it would be a deterrent for some who want to try the park but don't know that there are bathrooms.

Carmen

Wednesday 20th of July 2011

I'm new in your website, but I have to say that I am loving it! Thanks Michelle for putting together this info for the Oc moms looking for great and safe places for our kidos; I have to say that Sweet Shade Park is our FAVORITE park in OC; not only bc it has a great shade that protects our babies from the sun, but the tables are right next to the playground, and we can be watching them at all time, also, the restrooms are right inside the cliubhouse, which is a great plus as they are always clean; my friends and I drive from all over OC to meet at this beautiful park. We actually met the designers who built this awesome place and told them how much love the park and itss shade.

EIC

Monday 10th of January 2011

I am so glad and grateful to have found this website. We just visited this park today and it's even better than TeeWinkle in Costa Mesa. My 2 year old especially loved the water feature and thank god for the mild weather in So Cal because she was the only one splashing around in it in January! Thanks so much for all your work!

SAJ

Saturday 7th of November 2009

We just visited this park. It is fabulous. While we were there my little girl had to use the bathroom so we asked a local where the nearest restrooms were and she instructed us to the clubhouse building. Around the backside is a metal door that looks like it would be locked but it wasn't. I hope that helps somebody else like it helped us! Great site. Thank you for your hard work!

Laurie

Thursday 29th of October 2009

Correction: The cool 5-12 playstructure is an Evos made by Landscape Structures, Inc. out of Delano, MN.

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