Hope you still get to enjoy today off of work. We’re tidying things up around here. I’m shuffling links to make make things a bit more user-friendly and uncluttered. I wanted to point out a couple of items.
Behind-the-Scenes
We welcome all kinds of e-mails, especially from parents looking for particular play places. If you ever get frustrated looking through our site, or if you’re wondering about something specific — please just e-mail me. I can usually reply within 24 hours. I know from experience that you are probably not the only one looking for the info! Our e-mail is ocplayparks AT gmail.com.
Most Requested Info
1. A few ideas for stroller-friendly walking trails
- Salt Creek Trail in Dana Point
- San Clemente Beach Trail
- Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo
- Back Bay Loop Trail in Newport Beach
- Jeffrey Open Space Trail in Irvine
- Rancho Santa Margarita Community Trails (Map)
- Join a group like Stroller Strides to walk with friends
2. Splash Pads
I added a heading to the sidebar with the most POPULAR posts of the moment. I listed my Splash Pad post from last year. I say it all the time, but Kelly and Colleen are the best at LISTS and they already came up with a list of water play places. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to check them out in person. It’s tricky getting photos of these places WITHOUT kids – which is pretty much my policy.
3. Community Events
This is a common e-mail request from non-profits and charity organizations. They write in requesting I share information with you about their events. Many of them are worthy of the attention, too. I’ll be adding a News & Events heading to the sidebar. Here’s a sampling of what’s to come:
Events
- Stand Up to Cancer All-Star Game Charity 5K & Fun Run on Sunday, July 11th
- Yarning & Yakking, Tales & Snacking at Heritage Hill Historic Park in Lake Forest on July 7, 14, & 21
- Orange County Great Park Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, July 10th
News
- Orange County Board of Supervisors Accepts 20,000 Acre Gift (BIG news from June 29th)
- Host a Play Day with KaBOOM! (I did it last year and it was a blast!)
4. Link Partners
I’m updating all my link lists to make sure they are useful to you. However, I’m limiting the link lists to the topics of Nature, Play, and OC. You can already find some of the info in the sidebar, but it’s going to be easier to navigate on individual pages.
Thanks for your patience while I get everything looking pretty again. There’s sure to be some awkward stages in the middle of it all. The links above should keep you moving and splashing.
Photo credit: Creative Commons photo from erix!
