By Michele E. Buttelman
Every parent has “those” days when the kids need to get out of the house to play and run off excess energy. Parents in Santa Clarita are lucky to have a bounty of parks with playgrounds offering children myriad opportunities to climb, swing, slide and “just be kids.”
Santa Clarita Parks Manager Susan Nelson said the city takes children’s fun and safety seriously.
“We place a high value on giving everyone in the city access to recreational opportunities, especially the youth,” she said. “We want to give them playgrounds that are inviting, intriguing and offer different play elements for different ages and interests. Some kids like slides, some like swings, we want to offer a multitude of play elements.”
For Lucy Espinoza, a Canyon Country mother of two young boys, the playgrounds offer her kids a chance to get outside and engage in boisterous play.
“They have a lot of energy,” said Espinoza. “They beg me every day to take them to the playground.”
Espinoza said the playgrounds at Canyon Country Park and the new Canyon Country Community Center are within walking distance.
“It’s fun because they can have a choice of where to play,” she said. “I like that the playgrounds are very clean and new. Having shade lets them play longer when it’s hot.”
Inclusive Playgrounds
One of the latest innovations in playground design is the concept of inclusiveness and accessibility.
Santa Clarita opened up its first fully inclusive playground in January 2020 in Canyon Country. A second inclusive playground should break ground in the fall at West Creek Park and open in early 2023.
“As we renovate older playgrounds, we do look for opportunities to enhance playgrounds with inclusive elements,” said Nelson.
Nelson said inclusive elements can be used by children with different abilities.
“Play panels that can be reached by someone using a wheelchair is an example, and the roller slide at Canyon Country Park that has individual rollers in it,” she said. “There are also molded swings that provide support for sitting up.”
Shade and Character
Nelson said conscious effort goes into giving each playground its own identity and unique character.
“We are trying to highlight a different or unique feature with each playground as we renovate,” said Nelson. “Duane Harte playground has a woodsy theme, it has logs and animal footprints in the resilient surfacing so it has a unique feel to it. Pacific Crest has really tall slides, some people call it Slide Park.”
Nelson said at Vista Canyon the playground features musical elements.
“We included chimes, bells and drum elements, which makes it unique,” she said. “We thought it was fun to have more music elements at that site.”
With triple-digit summer temperatures on the way, Santa Clarita is also working to provide more shade for playgrounds as well.
“It gets very hot here in the summer months so there has been a concerted effort to have substantial shade structures put over the playgrounds that offer shelter from the sun,” said Nelson. “We don’t have shade at all the playgrounds yet, but we are certainly working toward that goal.”
Santa Clarita Playgrounds
Almendra Park
23420 Alta Madera Drive
Valencia, CA 91355
Full basketball court and shaded play structure for kids.
Begonias Lane Park
14911 Begonias Lane
Canyon Country, CA 91387
Fully fenced-in shaded playground gives peace of mind to parents.
Bouquet Canyon Park
28127 Wellston Dr.
Saugus, CA 91350
Pickleball courts and a playground for the kids.
Bridgeport Park
23521 Bridgeport Lane
Valencia, CA 91355
Shaded play structure. Multi-purpose field and ball diamond.
Canyon Country Community Center
18410 Sierra Highway
Canyon Country, CA 91351
Covered play area with climbing, sliding and spinning playground equipment. Opened in October 2021.
Canyon Country Park
17615 Soledad Canyon Road
Canyon Country, CA 91387
Santa Clarita’s first inclusive play area opened January 2020. This newly designed playground provides for physical and social inclusion for people of all ages and abilities.
Central Park
27150 Bouquet Canyon Road
Saugus, CA 91350
This 120-acre park offers four softball fields and 10 multipurpose fields trails, fitness zone, disc golf and a shaded playground.
Chesebrough Park
23505 Sunset Hills Drive
Santa Clarita, CA 91354
Covered play area.
Circle J Ranch Park
22651 Via Princessa
Saugus, CA 91350
Play area to swing and slide in the shade.
Copper Hill Park
21380 Copper Hill Drive
Saugus, CA 91390
Recently refurbished playground.
Creekview Park
22200 Park St.
Newhall, CA 91321
Shaded upgraded playground equipment and a sand volleyball court.
David March Park
28310 North Via Joyce Drive
Saugus, CA 91350
One of the best play structures in Santa Clarita with slides and tunnels to explore. Next to the fitness zone so parents can work out while kids play.
Discovery Park
27555 Canyon View Drive
Canyon Country, CA 91351
Offers unique rope play structures.
Duane R. Harte Park at River Village
26401 Riverrock Way
Canyon Country, CA 91351
Shaded play structure with a unique “woodsy” theme.
Fair Oaks Park
17468 Honey Maple Street
Canyon Country, CA 91387
Shaded playground and structure.
Golden Valley Park
27227 Five Knolls Drive
Canyon Country, CA 91351
Playground.
Newhall Community Center
22421 Market St.
Newhall, CA 91321
Outdoor play area.
Newhall Park
24923 Newhall Ave.
Valencia, CA 91355
Mature trees shade play structures.
North Oaks Park
27824 Camp Plenty Road
Canyon Country, CA 91351
Newly renovated shaded playground.
Oak Spring Canyon Park
28920 Oak Spring Canyon Road
Canyon Country, CA 91387
Play structures.
Old Orchard Park
25023 Avenida Rotella
Valencia, CA 91355
Mature trees and a playground.
Pacific Crest Park
29051 Garnet Canyon Drive
Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Includes some of the tallest slides in Santa Clarita.
Pamplico Park
22444 Pamplico Drive
Saugus, CA 91350
Shaded play structures. Play areas tailored to both toddlers and older children.
Plum Canyon Park
18819 Skyline Ranch Road
Saugus, CA 91350
Shaded playground.
Santa Clarita Park
27285 Seco Canyon Road
Valencia, CA 91354
Best known for its iconic Robot Slide. The slide was built in 1968 and as safety regulations were updated, the slide did not meet current standards. In 2006 the slide was enclosed so it could still be enjoyed as art.
Todd Longshore Park
28151 Whites Canyon Road
Canyon Country, CA 91351
Shaded play structures.
Valencia Glen Park
23750 Via Gavola
Valencia, CA 91355
This 7.3-acre park offers a play area with trees providing ample shade.
Valencia Heritage Park
24155 Newhall Ranch Road
Valencia, CA 91354
Shaded play structure.
Valencia Meadows Park
25671 Fedala Road
Valencia, CA 91355
Swimming pool, play structures and a ball field.
Valencia Summit Park
26147 McBean Parkway
Valencia, CA 91355
Play structures.
West Creek Park
24247 Village Circle
Santa Clarita, CA 91354
Children’s play area and a fitness zone. A new inclusive playground is slated to up early 2023.
Vista Canyon
16950 Lost Canyon Road
Canyon Country, CA 91387
The city’s newest park. The 11-acre park is home to an expansive shaded playground with interactive sensory features.
Visit www.santa-clarita.com/residents/parks-and-city-facilities for photos and list of park amenities.
