I was first introduced to this park many years ago when I came for my first swimming lesson as a child. After lessons, my brothers and sisters and I would go play at the park many times. Visiting the park as an adult no doubt brought back fond memories. The park still offers that green open space with mature trees, but new is the terrific community garden. I thought that was very cool. The playground equipment is closed for repair, as of this review, and they offer a small fenced off dog park area. Their plenty of parking and good restroom facilities on sight. The best part of this park is definitely the open space and hills and such. They still offer swimming lessons during the summer. This park brought back some good memories. read more

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I was at this beauuutiful park for the La Mesa Earth Day Fair. It was a free community event featuring eco-friendly vendors, a kids' zone, food trucks, and a clothing swap. I learned a lot from the vendors who provided some type of educational demonstration like composting and sustainable gardening just to name a few. The City of La Mesa did a fantastic job with putting this fair on...very well organized. read more

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Honestly... might be one of my favorite parks I've visited so far. It has a small trail that's slightly uphill. It has an enclosed dog park. There's a recreation center at the top of the park that has a few lanes for swimming and an indoor community center which hosts after school programs and other things for children and young adults. There's a parking lot next to the swimming pool. It has a lot of open spaces that you can unleash your dog (it's not permitted but people do it anyway) so yall can walk, run, play catch etc. I did a lap here and it took about 25 minutes which is pretty good. Even if you don't have a dog, it's perfect to lay out in the sun and read. Not quite large enough for a family gathering and not quite nice enough to have a picnic, but perfect for those who want to read / paint / draw / relax. There's a handful of spots with some shade. Adjacent to the park is a baseball diamond as well as a community garden which hosts community events. read more

MacArthur Park - Parks Near Me - La Mesa, California

Wow my dog and I loved this park! Total hidden gem! Lots of space to run around, plenty of shade, multiple parking locations including ELECTRIC CHARGING up the hill a little bit. In caps cause it's a huge deal to me lol. There's a fenced area for dogs to run around and this was totally clean! I didn't see a single pile of shit which is crazy lol. I suggest only letting dogs off leash in here though because 1. the park rules state no dogs off leash 2. I saw a coyote in the park. I knocked a star because due to possible coyotes the park isn't super safe, and also there should be an entrance coming down from the hill near the building. You have to walk all the way down or park in the bottom lot and that's annoying, the road down is a little dangerous. read more

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Love this park! As a dog owner, of course you're always looking for nearby places that are dog friendly and safe for humans and pets alike, and this is that park for downtown La Mesa. There's two fenced-in dog parks within the bigger park and there's always tons of dogs in the area. There's plenty of free parking in the upper and lower lots. If you're looking horns happy hour or brunch after taking your pup for a stroll, it's only a couple blocks away from the restaurants on La Mesa Blvd. TLDR; very convenient and great for dog owners read more

Who doesn't love wide open green spaces of nature with a plethora of shady spots? Bring your dog, cat or any other loved one here to relax, revive & relish the grandeur of MacArthur Psrk in LaMesa! thank read more

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We were visiting from out of town and let me just say what a beautiful experience! It was so nice and peaceful and spacious for our dogs to have a nice walk and roam around. Of course there are leash laws but it was so sweet to see all dogs free and playing. Highly recommend if you're in the area or simply want to take your pups out read more

We love MacArthur Park. They have a very nice dog park area. It's also a nice place to just hang out and study. My grandkids love rolling down the grassy hills, I enjoy it because there is lots of grass not too much dirt. Would be a great place for a picnic. read more

This is currently my wife's and I favorite park to take my grandson who is under 1 years old. Everything is well kept and in good working order. The park designed for small children is fenced off. No dogs are allowed inside. There is swings for the littlest of kids as well as a playground structure with multiple slides. The ground is either a sort of foam covered concrete or soft wooden chips for softening any unforeseen falls. The days of sandboxes are nonexistent here. There are also a few benches to sit on when you get tired of standing. Overall, a great park for small children. read more

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A quaint park, with ample parking that is absolutely totally fenced in so the little ones will not roam outside into the parking lot. This park is perfect to bring your child to get some energy out and to enjoy the warm sun outdoors in beautiful San Diego. It has an ample play structure with a few slides and plenty of space for your child to explore within the confines of a safe space. There are some benches and a picnic table too so bring those snacks/lunch so you can have a bite to eat as your child plays! Only thing: no bathrooms!!! read more

Toddler safe!!! Gated!!! Not too busy usually no restroom so plan play and snacks and go lol limit drinks

This is a nice little park if you have young kids. This park is very small which is good because you can keep a good eye on your kids. The park is also fenced in so your kids can't get out and you can see who comes in. There's no restroom or water fountain here so plan accordingly. read more

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This review is for the "Tot lot" play structure.. It's a great place for toddlers.. structure is well-designed for a safer park trip! Slides, swings & fun! read more

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The slides get pretty hot on a sunny day and the little ones like to eat the wood chips, haha! The wood chips weren't very deep to make a soft landing. Otherwise this was a great little park for toddlers. It is fenced in to keep kids in and animals out. read more

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We live in the area and love the open park and playground structure for our 2 year old. The play structure is perfect for his age and he enjoys it very much. The open grassy park is nice because its spacious and allows plenty of room for our son to roam around and explore. Only concern I have is the influx of pet owners bringing their dogs unleashed. Usually 10 to 12 large dogs on a nightly basis(between 4 and 6 pm) are running around creating unsafe conditions if you want your toddler to also run and enjoy the open space. Signs are posted, but rules aren't followed so we try to avoid going in the evening or whenever we see a lot of unleashed dogs. read more

I like having a park close to the house. There's a play area for kids, green grass to roam and more. Great local option but not too big. So you jay have to wait your turn for some items. read more

I am ok with this one. Parking is acceptable and it is clean. Lots for kids to do and a good place to catch some rays. I would spend more time if I had more time. The dog walkers are fine n no problem w the younger crowd. Trees are pleasant and the vibe good. Worth a stop to check it out. I like the place and can recommend fir a relaxing bit of time by self or w others and bring a snack. Parking lot clean and orderly. Go see fir yourself and give a try. read more

MacArthur Park is a cute little gated playground for younger children. It's close to the community center, so plenty of parking and restrooms nearby. It's a good option for a little playtime while you're already there for classes or to use the municipal pool. The playground is fully fenced, thus keeping children from running into the nearby street and parking lot. I've seen parents get a little too complacent about safety though, a fence is a nice safety feature, but children can still use it to get out as can strangers to get in. You still need to be careful and not be on your phone, ignoring your child. The city does a great job keeping up on the maintenance of the equipment and the play area. My son used to love coming here, he still does even if he's too big for the equipment. He enjoys watching all the rabbits and squirrels running around the park areas here. read more

Great little park for toddlers (target age is 2-5 year olds). Mostly shaded, fully fenced in, and age appropriate equipment. No bathrooms, but we don't usually stay too long so it's not a problem. A+ read more

I went recently on a Sunday morning, and it was a nice visit. Not crowded at all. There's a La Mesa community center or something nearby, so we were able to find parking there (I assume they don't mind sharing?). The park is fenced in, so that part is helpful in keeping the tots from wondering off. There are signs that say No Dogs, which is helpful in keeping everyone safe. There wasn't a ton of shade, but that's not the end of the world. I'd give it five stars, but there are no obvious restrooms around. read more

MacArthur Park is very quiet & a bit secluded. The kids park is enclosed with one main structure & some nearby trees provide a little shade. There is no specific dog area, however there was a dog waste bag dispenser by the parking lot. There is also a community pool in the back for a fee. I'd give this park more stars, but quite a large part of the grass is blocked off for some unknown reason & it leaves very little area accessible other than the playground. read more

A fantastic park! It's a bit of a walk for us (and seriously uphill both ways), but a good destination. Smaller playground, but has all the goodies. 2 swings (both for infants, though; no "big kid" swings), and a multi-purpose set with a bunch of slides, bullhorn, climbing blocks and tunnel. A bench and another picnic table are nice for the grown-ups to sit. Woodchips as the floor; great for walking, crawling and not a huge temptation to eat ;-) Fully gated. Like all of La Mesa it seems, there are no shade trees, so plan accordingly. read more

This is a high quality park. There is plenty of parking. The park is fully fenced in. The sign says it is designed for ages 2 to 5 but I think it would be fun probably up to 7 or so. The park is clean. 4 slides, one tunnel. Picnic bench. 2 regular benches. Only negative: only has the baby-style of swings, with the leg hole seats, no bench style seats. Overall really great park! read more

This is a lovely small park with A playground suitable for children ages two through five. The equipment is in great condition and the greenery is well-maintained. The park is very clean overall. There is one table and two additional benches. It's also fully fenced in. read more

I love that it's enclosed but it's rather small. It feels smaller the more crowded it is. But it's nice for my toddlers, they enjoy it.

My daughter loved it here. It's perfect for toddlers. We had a blast and will definitely be coming back. This place is a perfect example of why i love La Mesa. Big thanks to Yelp for helping me discover this little hidden gem. read more

Thank goodness for this park! I have a VERY active toddler and a newborn. This is the only park in my area that is gated so I feel comfortable venturing out alone with my kiddos since my toddler can't escape from me in a gated area :) read more

This is nearly a perfect park for toddlers! I take off a star because the age range it caters to requires bathrooms to be readily accessible on a moment's notice. While there is a nearby community center that never seems to mind our bathroom visits, it is a few hundred yards away or a short block's walk and this is too far for the emergency potty situation. Mama's with newly potty-trained 3 year olds know what I mean (a happily playing toddler can go from just fine to "MAMA I HAVE TO GO NOW" in the blink of an eye)! Other than that it is wonderful... small and manageable structures, well maintained and clean and fully gated to give the parents with "runners" a little peace of mind. Also, I've never seen any riffraff and vagrants drinking from paper bags in this park (not unusual to see that sort of thing in some other local parks). It's wonderful! We visit often! read more

This is an awesome tiny park tucked into a corner. I absolutely love the fact they have it surrounded with a fence.

We come here as much as we can. It is safe for most ages, but there are a couple of open door ways on the play structure that are not good for really little ones. read more