Victory Park in Tustin: An Outdoor Tribute to El Toro Air Station History

Victory Park in Tustin makes you feel like you are playing on the grounds of a Marine Corps Air Station. Wait. You are!

Directions to Victory Park in Tustin: The park is right off Jamboree near The District in Tustin. If you are coming from I-5, you take the Warner / Park Avenue exit off Jamboree. Turn right at the stop and the park is ahead of you on your left. Another easy way to get to the park, while getting a close-up view of the original full-size hangars is to take Barranca to Tustin Ranch Road and turn on Victory Road. MAP TO VICTORY PARK

Highlights:

• Every detail of the park keeps the air station alive — from the hangar-shaped restroom building & covered picnic area to the mini flight control tower replica with photos of the helicopters that flew here

• The garden area has landing strip details and the benches are shaped like airplane wings sitting on top of a hangar-shaped base. There are 6 placards sharing incredible details and historical photography of the old base.

• Lots of climbing apparatus with different size handholds that would be fun, even for older kids
• Grassy hill with a spiral path leading down into the playground – at the top is blue-filtered telescope and a red-filtered binocular that you can set on the hangar in the distance

• Interactive play panels with drums and music, plus an oddly placed post office doorway that leads into a wall
• Futuristic monkey bars and “spiderweb” climbers
• Spinners
• Balancing pedestals

• An accessible ramp for wheelchair access to some of the playground features
• Nice sidewalk around the park for walking or scooters
• 6 bench swings, 4 baby swings

Be Aware:

• It’s a BIG playground and you’ll probably have to follow your little one to be able to see him/her in all the places they can go. The good news is that the equipment is big enough to hold adults.
• The tallest tunnel slide is only reachable by a ladder – and it’s steep. Test it out yourself first!
• Not much shade on the play area

Checklist:

• Dedicated parking lot
• Recycled rubber and bark play surface with lots of lawn areas and some decomposed granite pathways
• Nice new restroom building
• Drinking fountain
• Some benches, but they don’t really provide a great view of the playground
• Covered picnic area with 4 tables and 2 charcoal grills
• Four more picnic tables outside the cover, surrounding the grassy area near the parking lot. All situated for easy unloading.
• 3 small elevated stages with shade covers and electrical for music performances
• Reservations required for groups of 20 or more
• Official City of Tustin reservation information
• Official Victory Park page on city website

Nearby parks:

• Bill Barber Memorial Park
• Sweet Shade Park