Dinosaur Park in Laguna Hills is the most common name I’ve heard for this amazing fossil-themed park behind the Laguna Hills Community Center at the corner of Alicia and Paseo De Valencia. I’ve also heard it called: Dino Park and Prehistoric Park. It’s a great run-around park with 2 different levels and all sorts of play equipment.

Location: Exit Interstate 5 at Alicia Parkway and head towards Laguna Hills (away from Mission Viejo).  Dinosaur Park is ahead on your right at the corner of Alicia Parkway and Paseo De Valencia – behind the Laguna Hills Community Center. [Address: 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills). MAP TO DINOSAUR PARK NEAR LAGUNA HILLS COMMUNITY CENTER

Highlights:

• Different areas appropriate for different ages
• Concrete turtle sculptures
• Very clean indoor bathrooms at the Community Center
• Close to soccer fields so plenty of room to run
• Beautiful rose garden and flowering trees
• Fun discovering fossils in the rock walls and playing on “whale bones”
• Tunnels, bridges, and stairs for exploring
• 2 bench swings and one baby swing (on upper level)
• Great for birthdays and big gatherings
• Visit the inside of the beautiful Laguna Hills Community Center for learning more fossil history and visiting the small public library
• Renovation in 2011 resulted in: replacing a lot of the sand with recycled rubber surfacing — and automating the turtle fountains with sensors.  They go off for 3 minutes at a time. (The city knows they are popular — and are trying to keep them functioning ALL year. Wanna know how you can help? Remind kids not to jam sticks or sand into where the water comes out. Thanks!)

Be Aware:

• Access to tall tunnel slide on upper play area is precarious for toddlers
• The metal slides connecting upper to lower play areas can get really hot
• Some parents don’t like this park because their younger child will want to play on the lower level — and the older child will want to play on the upper level.  So the parent runs around to be able to keep an eye on everybody.
• It backs up to Laguna Hills High School, so there are sometimes high school students there (outside of school hours during the school year)
• May compete for space with Community Center programs, city events, and soccer games at certain times of year

Checklist:

• Plentiful parking near Community Center
• Play surface: Recycled rubber and sand
• Bathroom building near to playground
• Numerous drinking fountains
• Starbuck’s, Subway, The Pizza Store are across the street in Ralphs shopping center (Coffee Bean is NO longer inside Ralphs)
• Shade covers, trees, and patio cover over picnic area
• Large picnic area with shade near snack bar, as well as two accessible picnic tables on upper level near swings
• Most impressive picnic area with COVERED barbecue grills
• If the snack bar happens to be open, a portion of proceeds benefit the Laguna High School marching band and color guard
• Visit the City of Laguna Hills website for making reservations
• Nearby public library: The Laguna Hills Technology branch of the Orange County Public Library system (it’s small, but it does have a selection of childrens’ books available for check-out)

Nearby parks:

• Costeau Park
• Stockport Park
• Mandeville Park

Costeau Park in Laguna Hills underwent a big renovation in April/May 2011 which removed all the bark play surface and completely replaced it with green recycled rubber.  I was ready to be under-impressed because I liked the old wooden equipment. In fact, I overheard some teenagers say “We played at that old park, like, our whole lives.” Despite my doubts, I have to say, I think the new version really is an improvement!

Location: At the corner of Alicia Parkway and Costeau, very near I-5 and AAA of Southern California office.  Exit I-5 at Alicia and turn towards Laguna Hills (away from Mission Viejo).  Pass Hon and take your next left on Costeau. You’ll see the playground on your right. MAP to Cousteau Park

Highlights:

• I love the new “Kids Only” treehouse theme.  Have your kids look for wildlife hiding in the tree.
• The climbing equipment and slides kept my 5 year old entertained.  We even played a simplified hide-and-seek.
• Those with toddlers will appreciate that this park is almost sand-free. There’s a separate sandbox at the little kid area.
• 2 baby swings, 2 bench swings on separate sets.
• Two spinners. I’ve seen these before, but I like the “bowl” version at this park because it’s close to the ground so kids can stop themselves.
• Springy mini teeter-totter for extra bounce.
• Lots of interpretive panels with numbers, counters, and planets.
• Basketball courts
• Large grassy area and hills for rolling down. Bring a ball or a frisbee.

Be Aware:

• Loud roar from traffic on Alicia Parkway, especially during high traffic times
• The baby swings are near the big kid equipment and the big kid swings are BETWEEN the little kid/big kid equipment. So watch the little ones when they travel back and forth between the structures while big kids are swinging.
• In rare instances, you might compete with school children or day care programs for use of the park.
• It’s near a street corner. However, because it’s slightly sunken in kids rarely run for the road.

Checklist:

• Plenty of close on-street parking
• Recycled rubber play surface
• NO restrooms
• Shade from trees surrounding the play area
• Hopscotch near basketball court
• Easy to supervise children
• One picnic table right near each play area, more tables with grill near the basketball court
• Wire mesh benches with backs
• Softball field, basketball court, hopscotch

Veeh Ranch Park in Laguna Hills provides space for an easy play date. Most of the recommendations submitted to our site are big destination playgrounds. Veeh Ranch isn’t one of those. We also like to highlight nearby nature and playgrounds that might not get a lot of press elsewhere.

Location: Veeh Ranch Park is in the part of Laguna Hills near Lake Forest Drive bordering Lake Forest (near Wild Rivers and the research park). Take Interstate 5 and exit at Lake Forest Drive. Turn towards the ocean as if you were headed to Laguna Beach.  Turn left onto Santa Vittoria near where Lake Forest Drive dead ends.  The park will be ahead on your left. Park on the street. MAP TO VEEH RANCH PARK IN LAGUNA HILLS

Recommended by: Michelle and Sharlene

Highlights:

• Nature takes center stage at Veeh Ranch. Michelle says there’s “Beautiful trees, large green field, lots of birds, natural creek, quiet.“
• Sharlene adds, “It had a cute playground for little kids and a creek running nearby. Very tranquil and peaceful.”
• There’s not much to the play equipment: 2 structures with 3 slides total, a little clubhouse, and sundial.
• 2 bench swings, 2 baby swings
• Shaded sand box.
• Lots of  picnic tables and benches near the play equipment.
• Basketball court.

Be Aware:

• Michelle notes, “The natural creek is a fun place for older children to play, but since it is natural, there are no safety measures to prevent injury, as is normal.”
• There is no shade over playground equipment.  Slides were already hot by 11am.
• The metal gazebo that shades the sand pit has chipped paint and rust. In fact, all the play equipment could use a power wash.
• I didn’t feel comfortable with my preschooler climbing the big kids equipment.  The ladders were too high  for me to help my little climber make it all the way up to the top.

Checklist:

• NO restroom
• Drinking fountain
• Sand and recycled rubber play surface
• Parking on the street
• Concrete picnic tables
• Nice full basketball court

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San Remo Park is a nice Laguna Hills neighborhood park to stop at if you have errands around the Laguna Hills- DMV area. The park may be small and simple but it lends itself to an easy and quick stop when your little ones have wiggles to get out. My 3 year old can’t read yet but he can tell you exactly what store we are at the moment we pull into the parking lot.  “Mama, we at the Target with Starbucks again?”  Since he doesn’t start preschool until next year, he gets the honor of being dragged on all my errands.

Location: From I-5 South, exit Irvine Center Drive and make a right.  Continue on Irvine Center Drive until it becomes Moulton Pkwy.  Right after the Moulton Parkway Plaza Shopping Center turn right onto Santa Maria Ave.  Make a right on San Remo. Parking is on the street. MAP to San Remo Park in Laguna Hills

Highlights:

• The play equipment is definitely geared toward younger kids (preschool and younger).  My 3 year old was happy that he could climb up and down all the ladders.
• There are a couple of small slides, a tic-tac-toe spinner, and curved and swirling ladders to climb.  There is a baby swing and big kid swing.
• A small gazebo-like structure sits in one corner of the sand pit and provides nice shade for kids digging in the sand.

Be Aware:

• NO restrooms
• The playground sits close to the street.
• Concrete ledges run parallel to steps leading to the play area.  Watch for adventure seeking little ones testing their jumping skills.

Checklist:

• A combination of rubber play surface and sand
• NO restrooms
• Two picnic tables and two concrete benches surround the play area.
• A tennis court is available for public use but there is a sign stating the court may be closed for city recreation tennis lessons.  A number is posted so you can call and check class schedules in advance. 949-707-2600
• Sand volleyball court (no net)

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MacKenzie Park in Laguna Hills may be a small neighborhood park but the equipment really lends itself to creative play.  Put on your tennis shoes and have fun playing hide and seek, Lava Monster (click to see cool Wiki on how to play) and mountain explorer with your kids. It’s a good spot to meet friends off Interstate 5 — except for no restrooms. However, there’s a Starbuck’s and McDonald’s on your way back to the freeway.

Location: From I-5 exit La Paz heading toward the ocean. Go right on McIntyre, left on Pike and follow to Mackenzie.  Parking on street.  MAP to MacKenzie Park in Laguna Hills

Highlights:

• There are steps, ladders, and alternating round discs all around the play equipment. My son had fun as I chased him around the playground and then giggle as he called “Safe!” once he climbed on one of the ladders.
• Since the park is small and there are benches surrounding the play structure, I found it easy to sit down, enjoy the view of Saddleback Peak and keep an eye on my little guy.
• There are individual rings that you can swing on like monkey bars, 3 slides and a bridge to help you find your way across the equipment.
• A walkway leads you from the playground to an open grassy area.  We watched a Frisbee game in action and a family setting up a picnic under one of the trees.

Be Aware:

• On one side of the sand pit there is a concrete ledge that separates the sand from a grassy hill.  One of the first things my son tried to do was jump from the concrete ledge into the sand pit.  It is an easy jump for bigger kids but my little guy ended up with a mouthful of sand followed by plenty of tears.
• The play equipment is geared toward bigger kids (5-12 years old).  There are some openings on the equipment that lead to curved ladders.  The ladders are fine when climbing up but are tricky when trying to climb down.

Checklist:

• Recycled rubber play surface with separate sand pit
• No swings
• No restrooms
• Drinking fountain
• Three concrete picnic tables and four benches surround the play area.
• Tennis courts are open from sunrise to sunset.  The court is closed during tennis lessons but there is a schedule posted on the court door to help you plan play time.  Schedule changes frequently.

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