Big fan of the newly remodeled Pepper Tree Park! Tucked behind the marina right by the water, with gorgeous views and a nice ocean breeze. Just pay attention to the parking signs since a lot of the lot is designated for boats and trailers. We love the splash pad! perfect for kids to run around and cool off. There's plenty of seating around the playground and splash pad, plus shaded picnic tables for parents. My son loves the swings and climbing features, and there's a nice grassy area too. Such a huge improvement and easily one of our favorite parks in the South Bay! read more

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Pepper Park definitely got a nice glow-up! The updated playground and splash pad are really nice, especially for the kids. They did a great job with that part. But man... y'all forgot the bathrooms...They're consistently pretty nasty, and there are often people sheltering or hanging around in there, which can make it uncomfortable when you're bringing kids in to use them. If you're gonna upgrade the playground and splash pad, the bathrooms needed some love too. Fix those up and this park would be so much better for families read more

Such a good time!! ​This is a newly renovated park that is perfect for families! The pirate-themed play structures are super cool, and the kids absolutely enjoyed running and climbing. There are plenty of activities to choose from, including a splash pad, sand play, a huge grassy area for running or flying kites, kayaking, and fishing. There is also plenty of shade for both kids and adults at the picnic tables, but there's also enough room to bring your own pop-up tent if you want. I did see porta-potties on-site. I am hoping they are just there temporarily for a restroom renovation, but no one in our group needed to use them, so I didn't get close enough to see if there were any signs posted. ​ The parking lot has plenty of space for a normal day at the park. I imagine if there is a big event or multiple birthday parties going on it could get full, but it was fine for us. ​The park was incredibly clean, and my kids had a blast playing with the other children. No bullies or mean kid vibes at all, so shoutout to the parents! We will definitely be back and will come even more prepared with props to play next time. read more

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This is an awesome playground. There is a ton to do and the pirate ship theme is so fun. There is a great splash pad too that all the kids seem to love. There is a sand pit area close to the water that is really fun and yet another thing to do here. There is a huge free parking lot, restrooms, and lots of seating available through tables to a big grassy area. My only complaint is there is a ton of trash. There are small bits of trash everywhere on the grass, almost like confetti. We saw everything from popped balloons to beer cans to candy wrappers to baby wipes. It was pretty gross. The trash is even on the playground. read more

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Newly done pirate ship themed playground with splash pad and sand play area, would highly recommend, esp on a hot day. Now it can get quite toasty for the parents because there's really no shade coverage at all, but it's perfect for the kiddos to run around through the splash pad and cool off. I liked that the pirate play structure had a variety of climbing, balancing, hanging, and sliding things. There were two bucket swings (no regular swings). And I really liked that the sand box area was pretty well separated from the splash pad and play structure. It's a big pet peeve of mine when there's sand everywhere at the other areas. As we got there relatively early, parking was still manageable but it was definitely full as we were heading out by late morning. read more

What a wonderful park! Great interactive and fun play structures, a nice splash pad, areas for picnic blankets, good clean sand area, restrooms, and the fishing dock. Kept our kids busy for 3 hours easily! The park itself was also very clean with no litter which is uncommon here. read more

Beautiful new park that just opened this past weekend. There is a large splash pad, that is perfect for a hot day. They have a large pirate ship themed playground, a play area for younger kids, sand area, nice grass, lots of picnic tables, restrooms and a parking lot. I loved that there was a half wall / seating structure surrounding half of the splash pad for parents to sit. They also have lots of picnic tables. The one downside is that there really is no shade, so definitely need to apply the sunblock! Parking lot size is decent and has charging for EVs, but it was full by late afternoon when we went. We found street parking a short walk away. I will definitely go back for another visit to this new park! read more

Right now the park is being renovated. I'll reserve the right to update my review once it's completed.I will say that if the renovation doesn't include doors on restroom stalls they won't fair so well in my future reviews. read more

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Pepper Park sits on the Sweetwater Channel across from the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, close to San Diego Bay in National City.  This Port of San Diego park is relatively small compared to other waterfront parks in San Diego.   The west side of the  park features green space, picnic tables, and playground equipment.  On the east side, there's mostly parking lot and a public boat launch.  In between, you'll find a building with public restrooms.  The area surrounding the park is somewhat off-putting.  It consists mostly of warehouse and transportation facilities associated with the Port. read more

Might be my new favorite park. Nice, clean & people mind their business. I've lived in CV all my life & never knew about this park. read more

Pepper Park - Parks Near Me - National City, California

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Man let me tell you about this little park. A little hidden & I mean hidden gem in National City. Alway from the city & the madness this park is one of the better little parks in the South Bay. Been coming to this park for years with my pop & my family.You can bring your boats & fish or fish off the pier, bring your doggies for a walk or have a little party here. Or bring your girl for a late little stroll & take her back to the car & you know,make magical moments. Back in the 80's it was not as nicely kept as it is now. I grew up in this park, from a kid with my family to teenage years with the homies to chill, drink & smoke till my later teen years when I brought girls to chill & have a good time (the parking lot is usually empty later at night) & now with my kids & siblings kids for BBQ's & parties. This park has been good to me & my family. The people here are peaceful never had drama. We get them all here, a park for everyone. You have the Jacksons BBQing the Martinez family grilling Carne Asada & the Wangs cooking up fish & pancit & you can even trade food with them that's how cool it is. The upgrades to this park since the 80's is pretty good,from the upgrades to the restrooms,the grass & the playground are all great. And on weekends you get a ice cream truck making his rounds. Yes there is some homeless people that stay in their car & just go to the restrooms to wash up & fish to eat, invite them over for some tacos & a beer, we do. And the cops do make their rounds every once in awhile so make sure to have your Red Cups ready. The park ain't that big but it's ok for us because well the kids & grandpa won't get lost. Over all I love this little park & will be hitting it up in the summer to fish & grill. read more

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I love this park. You can fish, have the kids play at the park all at the same time. Everyone I come across here are happy family oriented people. There is lots of parking and a loading dock for those who have a boat. But love bringing the kites and fishing polls and the dogs. Beautiful park. read more

Pepper Park - Pepper park flying kites - Parks Near Me - National City, California

" A Lot of Weird People Stay Here " I went to Pepper Park in National City yesterday to wait for a bus to take a tour of the San Diego Waterfront area. I had never been to this Pepper Park before. The Park is small and has some play ground type equipment for kids to play on. The Men's bathrooms was very dirty, and it was a little scary watching the parking lot, as we were waiting for our bus. Several homeless type people who were obviously living in there cars, were parked in the parking lot with their dogs, cats, etc. Those people would go into the bathrooms with towels, shavers, and other paraphernalia. The Parking lot is also very busy with large trucks carrying boats coming and going all the time, as they use the Marina ramp next to the Park to launch and pickup there boats. Not the kind of Park that I would take my family too. read more

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As a boater I rate this "okay" for the launch ramp. The traffic on hwy 5 is usually pretty crowded when I drive down here and when I drive back with the trailer. During the week the ramp has never been real crowded for us and the facilities are good. But on the weekends a lot of the trailer spaces are taken up by single cars - which should be parked in in single spaces, not boat trailer parking. I have never seen parking rules enforced here. Sometimes there is trash and other stuff in the toilets and on the tables, but that is typical in San Diego area parks and public areas. I come to this ramp because the Shelter Island ramp has been closed for 18 months. The port district seems in no hurry to reopen it even though they tout it as "the busiest boat launch in California". Oh well, the port district does what they want and on their own timetable. The problem with coming over here to Pepper is that there is not much to do this far south on the bay and it adds a lot more miles (and time) getting out to the ocean. read more

I usually go here for a quick walk along the bay. Sometimes I will bring my fishing pole to fish. A very relaxing place. They have a boat launch here if you want to take your boat out. They also have a fishing pier here. A small park area if you plan on having a picnic or something. A small playground for young kids. The area is also kept clean by the city of national City. The restrooms here are also kept very clean. I been to most city parks and usually the restrooms are filthy and dirty, not this place. I usually come here around weekdays and always find parking. Not sure how it is here on the weekends. One cool thing is they have a pair of Ospreys near the entrance of the park. The nest looks manmade. I usually see nature photographers here taking pictures of the osprey. Overall another cool city park near the bay. read more

Pepper Park - Relaxing and testing out fishing lures at Pepper Park - Parks Near Me - National City, California

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I'm rating only the launch ramp. It's usually good in the mornings but when the afternoon cross-wind comes up it's very difficult to get your boat on the trailer. The Shelter Island ramp is rumored to open again this Friday. read more

first time there and i love it!!! like the playground for my kids play it safe better than other park. Plenty land to run and can bring boat or ski jet to water and fishing too.it nice view by the water, also everything is new in park. read more

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I love this park! The amenities are great, it's not too crowded and being by the bay is a big plus! It has a little deck for fishing, nice children's play area and some Benches to sit and watch the birds read more

This park is great! Great play area for kids, bathrooms although standard park bathrooms, and a fishing area. We go here once a week. Even had our daughters 2nd birthday party here last min on a Saturday. Always parking. You have to drive past the area where all the cars that get shipped to San Diego are but, it's fine. Also if you are a cyclist this is a great place to park to catch the South Bay bicycle trail. read more

This is a convenient place along the bayshore bikeway to stop and have a sandwich. Abundant, shaded picnic tables, bustling port activity to keep you entertained, and a distinct lack of creepy street persons. read more

This place is a little sketchy, but functional. Some homeless folks hang out here, but I've never had any problems. The bathrooms are awful. There's a decent 10-lane ramp with small dock with easy access to south bay. Pretty easy to get to from I-5, but a little off the beaten path. There's a park with a nice play structure adjacent to the parking lot. Not many trailer parking spots (maybe 20) so it can fill up on a busy day: and people using the park tend to take up the trailer spots. (arrrgh). They're building a new marina right next door, so I'd expect it to get a bit busier once that's opened up. If you're lucky you can catch one of the massive 20 story cargo freighters offloading brand new Volvo's and Audi's right next door. read more

A jewel by the NC Bay...off of west 24th St. This a bay/marina park which more locals seem to appreciate better..lots of local native wild life in the area...which i consider a plus....also a small pier for fishing (day/night) ....good size of a playground for the little ones a plus...took our grill, grilled dinner on a nice summer afternoon with good friends/family. Always a nice quick outing ...restrooms are remodeled and kept clean....at least the times i have been there... read more

Beautiful, peaceful place. Nice setting. Cool benches. Great view of port and commercial activity.

New play ground, new bathroom, safe place to take your kids, you can go fishing too and nice view by the water.

The park is nice and clean, I fish here a lot. The fishing is pretty much dead here, I come here because I live near. It's always nice when the schools of mackerel come around, but you can get plenty of bait fish. I've mostly caught rays, sharks, and sometimes bass. Overall you meet great people on the pier, it's a nice place to relax. read more

Nice Bay view park area. There is a big playground for the kids to play, but parking may be limited.

Peaceful and family friendly with a delightful view of the bay as well as the pier.

Pretty cool place for families. Nice fishing pier and a park for kids. I agree with the reviewer who called it sketchy - it does seem a bit like a homeless person hangout. read more

Someone put some money into this place. Nice view. Nice fun for kids. Nice fishing pier. I could spend the day with no issues.

This park is a National City gem. You can come here to fish, walk your dog, bring your kids and let them play at the playground, or sit at one of the several picnic tables and have lunch. read more

Quiet bay setting with excellent facilities. Only setback is the pier. Went past Saturday to find 30 poles in the water and only 9 people fishing. read more