Settlers Park in Irvine

Sssshhhh . . . Settler’s Park is a secret! Kelly from Just Spotted recommended this park at great risk of personal sacrifice (she might have to share her little piece of paradise). We played at Settlers Park in Irvine tonight at sunset enjoying every minute. It’s a quiet setting among the citrus orchards and pepper trees. We saw turkey vultures and even spotted a baby tarantula. Love it when we catch wildlife in action. Oh, and we met two very nice families playing at the park tonight. “Hi!” (that’s me waving).

Recommended by: Kelly from Just Spotted

Location: From Interstate 5, exit at Culver and drive east toward the foothills. Cross Portola Parkway and turn left at the second light where the signs point to Settler’s Park. The parking lot is on your right. [Address: 35 Settler's Way, Irvine] This park is so new it’s not even on the map – but I manually put it on my map!  MAP to Settlers Park in Irvine

Highlights:

• Shaded play area with lots of fun interactive gym equipment: regular climbing walls – plus wavy metal climbing apparatus, hand/foot pedal gizmo, spinning “shower head,” rope climbers and the most amazing ladder which twists from horizontal rungs to vertical!
• An amazing mini-trike track around the play area, complete with traffic signs and a cute little parking lot.
• Covered picnic area with grills
• Huge grassy area
• Kelly says “I LOVE that I can see the entire play area without having to move if my kids move.”

Be Aware:

• Some prickly rose bushes surrounding the play area
• We arrived when a soccer practice was breaking up – don’t know if that would make it busy.
• Not a lot of shade since Settler’s is  a new park – in time that will improve.

Checklist:

• Dedicated parking lot
• Sand and recycled rubber play surface
• VERY nice restrooms – as park restrooms go
• Not much shade
• 2 covered picnic tables, 3 uncovered tables, and 2 grills with hot coal receptacles
• Easy to view kids
• 2 full lighted basketball courts
• Soccer field
• Round sand volleyball court