Awesome San Diego Playgrounds

Civita Park

7960 Civita Blvd., Mission Valley

This expansive park was made for lots of visitors! The multilevel playground includes structures for older and younger kids with plenty of options to keep kiddos engaged. The splash pad is a favorite feature that keeps everyone cool on a hot day. If you trek to the very top of the staircase, there is a special surprise in the tunnel—a beautiful mural highlighting everything we love about San Diego.

Encinitas Community Park

425 Santa Fe Dr. Encinitas

This park has so much to offer and their playground is one of its biggest highlights. The large, shaded playground caters to kids of all ages and has unique play features that model SoCal activities such as windsurfing or skateboarding. You’ll also find a skate park, dog park and baseball/ multi-purpose fields. SD Playground Mom is looking forward to venturing into South Bay. Where are your favorite playgrounds in San Diego’s South Bay? Email editor@ sandiegofamily.com and tell us about them.

Mast Park

9215 Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee

The options are endless at Mast Park. Their outdoor-themed playgrounds cater to kids of all ages and includes a natural play area where kids play climb on tree trunks and rocks. There’s a disc golf course, dog park, basketball court, nature trails, and much more.

Pacific Highlands Ranch Community Park

5977 Village Center Loop Rd. Carmel Valley

Home to an amazing playground that includes a parkour training area, structures for older and younger kids, musical play elements and a sand area for digging. Another highlight of this park is the famous pump track that accommodates bikes, skateboards, and scooters, as well as a separate skate park.

Kellogg Park

8277 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla

At La Jolla Shores beach is Kellogg Park, a popular spot with a lifeguardthemed playground. Play and swing while enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean. There are also marine life elements, such as a tiled mosaic and the J.J. whale sculpture (in honor of a gray whale calf that was rescued in 1997, nursed back to health at SeaWorld San Diego and released off the coast of Point Loma).

Honorable Mentions

Highland Ranch Park, Carmel Mountain Ranch

Mira Mesa Community Park, Mira Mesa

Grape Day Park, Escondido

Maruta Gardner Playground

Bonita Cove Park 1100 W Mission Bay Dr., Mission Beach

This popular beach park’s playground is known for a climbing structure designed to look like the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster at Belmont Park. It’s a climber’s dream with an incredibly fun slide feature built in. There is also a smaller play structure for younger kids, swing options and spinning elements.

Compliments of Olivia Moore, local mom and playground adventurer. Follow her on IG @SDplaygroundmom