Excellent park. Irvine knows how to do parks, and Valley Oak is just another example of a great park in the city. What I love about this park is that there is plentiful SHADE. This is very important, especially if you're a parent or caregiver watching your little ones play. Also, the playground is set up so that all of the playground equipment and sandboxes and such are in the middle of a big square, and around the square are benches. So the kids are pretty much surrounded by benches, which makes it easier to watch them without having to get up so often. It also makes you feel like the kids are safer for some reason -- maybe because they're surrounded by benches. The last time I visited Valley Oak, there were a bunch of fun sand toys in the sand that all the kids were playing with communally. I like that! Then, as each kid went home, their parents took their toys. I like that new kids (like mine) could just plop down in the sand and play with someone else's buckets and shovels. Maybe it was just the vibe of the people there that day, or maybe that's the way it is around Irvine parks, but I like that all of the kids were down with sharing toys. This is a smallish park, but it has everything you need (large playground, bathrooms, water fountain, shaded picnic benches), so I'm not complaining. I like it! read more

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This park has really gone downhill. Went because it was on a OC list of recommended parks. The swing seats were COVERED in mud, mildew and bird poop. It was the first time I really felt like if I put my kid in there, her shorts would be black from the swing afterward. The swings are rusty and uneven, and hearing another kid, are very loud and squeaky and need WD-40. The equipment is COVERED in spiderwebs, dirt, bird poop, sand (like, a LOT even in the higher levels, more than you'd expect), and I even saw a BROWN WIDOW!! Made me so paranoid that my daughter would get stung by one hiding somewhere. The whole park needs a hose and some pest control. In addition, looks like people disrespect the park - tons of litter and trash on the ground. Tons of burst latex balloons everywhere. All in all, we didn't stay long - it was the first time in a long time I've thought "oh this park is really gross, I don't want my kid here." I'm not coming back to this one. read more

Valley Oak Park - Pretty much all the grass had litter. - Parks Near Me - Irvine, California

Valley Oak Park is a small park with a playground, basketball court, tennis courts, and a decent amount of grassy areas. It has a small parking lot and while it's not as big as other parks in Irvine, there are fewer people and it still has the basic amenities. It even has restrooms and some tables in the middle. read more

Valley Oak Park - Parks Near Me - Irvine, California

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tl,dr: Small quiet simple park. Happened on it during my bike ride along the San Diego Creek. Heard pickleball noises. Had to check it out. Non-likes: - Unfortunately there are no pickleball courts here. It was just a couple hitting a pickleball around one of the park's two tennis courts. Likes: + Not a lot of people here on a weeknight. Tranquil setting. Nice place for a peaceful stroll. read more

Good sized park w basketball court, nice playground (some sand, but mostly cushioned top), some semi-covered picnic benches, and a concrete walking path around it. What i love about it is that part of the playground and park is in the shade at least in the morning. THere is a sign that states public bathrooms open by 9am. read more

Valley Oak Park - Parks Near Me - Irvine, California

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This park is busy in the evenings! There is a toddler and a regular playground in the center of the park. There are benches around the play area for parents to sit and watch their young ones. The play areas are unique in that they have a few features I haven't seen in other parks. My toddler enjoyed the climbing feature which wasn't the typical rock climbing feature you normally see. There is a tennis court and basketball court. Along with a parking lot. The park feels very safe. Your toddler can't run onto the road - the park is quite boxed in and away from the road. read more

Valley Oak Park - Rock climbing - Parks Near Me - Irvine, California

Yeah, I wrote a review for the park over the road (Oak Creek community park) originally. Whoops. This park is a cute little neighbourhood park. It's pretty small. I only remember seeing one picnic table area, which was shaded. I think there were three tables. The kids park is fun and has a big kids area and little, which I like. There are also swings for bigs and littles. Overall, it's a decent little park. read more

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The park is great. Not so big but has a good and safe playground. There are toilets football field and tennis courts. There is also a parking lot. read more

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This city of Irvine Park seems often confused with Oak Creek Community Park (soon to be redeveloped as the Central Bark dog park) and Dovecreek Park next to the school. Valley Oak is compact with 2-5 and 5-12 play equipment over foam and sand (more of the former), two tennis courts and one basketball court, with a patch of grass. Two toddler and two big kid swings. Parking lot is limited, like 20 spots and is often full. Bathrooms and trellis over four picnic tables with two grills. Shade from mature trees, no sails. A gate separates the park from the San Diego Creek Trail that runs along one side of the park. read more

My favorite park in Irvine for small trips to the park with the kids. There are certainly better parks for parties, but this park is set up perfectly for short day outings. Point 1. The parking lot is set back a nice distance from the playgrounds. This is perfect for us folks with wandering toddlers and gives us a fighting chance of catching them before they reach the asphalt. Point 2. Two playgrounds. One is perfect for infants and small toddlers and the other is perfect for older toddlers and bigger kids. The great part is that the infant playground is so age-appropriate that it is not at all enticing for the big kids. This is a huge plus for us parents that get super annoyed by the big kids throwing sand and "accidentally"stomping on infant hands while their parents are busy with their green juice and iPhones. Just saying, that won't happen here. Point 3 - Lots of shady space. Nice benches around the perimeter of the sand box to "set up shop". Bathrooms and drinking fountains also on site. Point 4 - Large grassy area to throw the frisbee or catch with other willing adults while the little kids play on the playground. Point 5 - There is a super cool rock wall on the "big kid" side that is angled enough to not give you a heart attack when your kid plays on it. Great park! read more

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Very nice community park in Irvine within walking distance from my home. Irvine does an excellent job of strategically placing these parks all over Irvine. This is what you call a "master" planned community. There are picnic tables with barbecues, play area for kids, basketball court, and tennis courts. read more

Very nice park, it has picnic tables, swings, playground, open grass for sports, and grills to bbq. A lot of people just come here for walks as well. read more

Cute little neighborhood park. There are quite a few families walking around with their strollers. It's not a big parm. There are enough tables for families to bring snacks and sit down and eat while watching their little ones play. It seems to be pretty clean and safe, at least when it comes to the equipment. There is a restroom nearby, very close to the playground. It is far enough so that no one smells it. But close enough so that a parent of two or more, can take one kid to the restroom while watching the other child on the playground. There are paths to walk or ride a bike and scooter. I love this little park. There are huge open grass areas for kids to run around. However, I noticed dog owners let their dogs run around without a leash and I saw one dog peeing on the grass. I would not let my kids lay there without a blanket. read more

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This park has been amazing and done us well for the past few years... It has wonderful tennis and basketball courts etc. Maybe they could get soccer goals for the field for more of a variety of sports. The facility is well maintained with little trash and clean bathrooms. This park could be due for an upgrade in the coming years. read more

This is a clean park maintained well buy the maintenance people great for kids great for Mom to come out and hang out rest rooms are clean landscape is beautiful plenty of room to run around it has tennis courts and a picnic area read more

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We love this park. Been coming here for years. My kids are 4 and 6 right now but we have been coming since my youngest was an infant. Things I like: always clean, bathrooms are very close to the playground, the park is fenced in on three sides so there's no escaping! There's a big grass area behind the playground for playing tag or kicking around a ball, and there are basketball and tennis courts as well as several picnic tables and even a couple grills (but ew...). Best part for parents/caregivers: plenty of shade! It's a small park but it sure seems to meet all our needs! read more

I usually come here to play tennis. The wait varies... but usually when we come, it's not that bad. Peak hours for tennis are probably evenings... once we waited 30 minutes. It was probably just unfortunate timing for us. The park is really clean and there's a BBQ area so that's nice! The swings are always fun too. read more