Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach lead the count for most fenced parks in Orange County.  Some moms call these playgrounds “baby jail” and others call them “a lifesaver.”  I had some great comments on our page on Facebook for this one:

Catherine said: “If you have more than one little one (such as 2 two yr olds in my case) I’ll take a “jail” over constant heart attacks when one makes a run for the street and the other for the free fall off the 2nd floor playground. I love fenced in parks and can actually enjoy my kids knowing everyone is safe!”

Courtney added: “As a mom of 4-year-old twins, the fenced-in park was a god-send when my girls were about 18 months to almost 3 years old. There’s nothing about a jail there at all. It’s called peace of mind!”

So here are the parks I know about and will add to the list if as people send me suggestions . . .

Grand Park in Aliso Viejo – very small, near Aliso Town Center, no restrooms, great views

Grand Park in Aliso Viejo

Aliso Viejo Community Park - a much bigger park with a fenced in toddler area, has restrooms, can be busy with sports and school pickups

Aliso Viejo Community Park

Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach – one of favorite parks of all time, has restrooms, it’s bigger but manageable

Bluebird Park

Village Green Park in Laguna Beach – small park but fenced right off PCH near Crown Valley, no restrooms, not a lot of parking

Village Green Park

Lang Park in Laguna Beach – across from Montage, beautiful ocean views, has restrooms

Lang Park

Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove – small fee, large park but it is fenced, whimsical play equipment

Atlantis Play Center

More fenced parks:

• Ocean Breeze Park in Laguna Niguel (mostly fenced)
• Eisenhower Park at Seal Beach Pier
• Henry Dotson Park in Stanton (mostly fenced)

Happy playing!

Our unplanned visit to Nix Nature Center on the westbound side of Laguna Canyon/SR 133 turned out to be a pleasant surprise and an awesome family outing. The rangers at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park were exceedingly helpful and informative. I wanted to spend all day there. The Laguna Canyon Foundation is a non-profit “dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing the South Coast Wilderness.”

Location: If you are traveling from the Interstate 405, take the Laguna Canyon Road/SR 133 exit towards Laguna Beach. Be watching out on the right side for the turn off into the parking lot.  There are deep dips, acting as drainage ditches, as you drive into the dirt parking lot so take it slow.  The 73 Tollroad and Pacific Coast Highway are alternate ways of reaching the Center. MAP to the Nix Nature Center – Headquarters of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Highlights:

• You’ll immediately feel a connection to the wilderness surrounding you
• Talk to the very friendly rangers about getting the scavenger hunt to Mary’s Trail (a short 1/2 mile loop near the Center)
• Explore the Nature Center – there’s lots to touch: corn to mash and fossils to dig up.
• Personally, I loved the Adirondack chairs on the deck leading to the trails. They invite you to turn your back on the rush of life and sit facing the mountains and chaparral to contemplate your connection to nature.
• Lots of wildlife to view — we saw raptors, lizards, rabbits, and insects. We even ran into our first rattlesnake on a short trail through the parking lot. I didn’t stop to take photos, but it was a thrill to see one.
• We got there too late, but there is also a hike under the roadway to a lake

Be Aware

• It’s a wilderness park. Get out and experience it. Always ask the rangers about trail and park conditions. Then use common sense precautions: stay on the trail, keep ahead of the kids so you can scout out any hazards, and bring plenty of water.
• Parking lot open 8am-4pm (exit gate closes at 5pm so make sure you are out in time)
• Fee parking — your OCParks annual pass is good here. We weren’t driving the car with our stickers, so we just paid the $3. Well worth it!
• Wear shoes you don’t mind getting dusty
• No playground – nature is your playground
• We spotted a rattlesnake in the parking lot area – and I just ran into a blogging buddy (3/2010) who had the same experience. So watch where you step!

Checklist:

• No playground, but lots of interactive exhibits
• Restrooms outside the Nature Center entrance
• Drinking fountains
• Pay parking. Use your annual OC Parks pass or pay at the automated kiosk in the parking lot.
• Nature Center is free and open from 9am-4pm daily
• This park is on Page 15 of your Nature Scene Investigator Operations Guide.

Moulton Meadows Park rests high above Laguna Beach. The drive up is almost as much of an adventure as the park itself. The houses are beautiful and the park rests just below the summit. There are views of Aliso Viejo from the path above the playground. Thanks so much to the anonymous Play Parks Visitor who gave their thoughtful insight into the park. I’ve marked their comments in italics below.

Location: Take PCH and turn up Nyes Place which climbs very steeply turning into Balboa Avenue. Park along the street on your right when you reach the top of the hill.  MAP to Moulton Meadows Park in Laguna Beach

Lang Park sets a playful scene featuring “Music of the Spheres” by Nancy Mooslin – the steel rainbow sculptures swirling above this hidden jewel opposite the Montage.  Memorialized in a small plaque, Fred Lang was a notable Laguna Beach landscape architect. Originally posted in August 2008. New slideshow in April 2009.

Location: Off Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach directly across the street from the Montage and Treasure Island Park on Wesley. MAP to Lang Park in Laguna Beach

Recommended by: Robin

Highlights:

• Completely fenced in park and playground
• INCREDIBLE ocean view
• Very cool on a hot day since it’s across the street from the Montage Resort. Can be foggy/cooler in mornings.
• Toddler-size play structure has small picnic table built-in for playing “kitchen,” chimes, and an fun ocean accents – completely shaded structure
• Older kid structure also shaded and near amphitheater steps
• Swings for all ages
• Expansive grass area for playing/flying kites
• Also half court for basketball and one fenced-in tennis court

Be Aware:

• Small parking lot and metered street parking is very full on weekends in the afternoon due to being across from the beach and Montage
• Very nice woman (regular) and her grocery cart typically here in the morning/early afternoon hours during the weekdays

Checklist:

• Street parking is metered and full on prime beach visiting times. Shares parking lot with private preschool and Lang Community Center.
• Bark under swings / Recycled rubber and sand under structures
• Typical beach bathrooms, nothing fancy
• Usually shade covering the bench and most of both play structures. No shade on picnic tables or swings. Nice shade under sycamore planter.
• Very easy to supervise multiple kids
• 3 picnic tables and 1 bench, but amphitheater seating around older child play structure 3 levels deep
• Albertson’s across Wesley for drinks or lunch. Ruby’s Diner up the street for fun kid dining.

Alta Laguna Park overlooks the 133/Laguna Canyon Road. I’m a pushover for parks with views and, so far, this one tops them all. It wasn’t a crystal clear day when we visited – but you can bet we’ll go back on one of those. We heard about this park from my nephew’s T-ball coach who rides his bike to the top of Park Avenue. It would certainly be a challenging climb.

Location: From Pacific Coast Highway, turn onto Laguna Avenue which changes into Park Avenue after a block. Follow this steep road past the high school and all the way to the T-intersection at the top of the hill. Turn left to get to the park (parking lot is on the right). MAP to Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach

Highlights:

• Views of the Great Park and Irvine, Soka University and Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach and the ocean
• Fine, white sand with lots of climbing apparatus – boulders and bridges provide lots of extra fun
• Appropriate play areas for all ages in a natural setting
• Quiet with hiking trails nearby
• Natural Exploration: Take some of the trails off the park and let the kids explore. We hiked up to the Carolyn Wood Knoll and enjoyed the 360 degree view. We could have hiked all the way down the hill to Aliso Viejo.

Be Aware:

• We didn’t encounter this on our visit, but my sis and her kids experienced a huge number of gnats on a hotter, humid day. Who knows where they came from?
• No baby swings

Checklist:

• Parking in a dedicated lot
• Sand and recycled rubber play surface
• Restrooms very close to playground
• Drinking fountains
• Not a lot of shade, but close to the ocean for sea breezes
• Easy to view kids and there are covered picnic tables right on the playground
• Tennis courts, basketball court, soccer fields, even handball courts