A Walk in the Park

Need a break? These OC sculpture parks will boost your Instagram feed and cure your Zoom fatigue.

STORY BY DANIELLE JAQUEZ PHOTOS BY DANIELLE JAQUEZ, ELYSSA RUIZ,

AND ALEXANDRA RODRIGUEZ

DESIGN BY DARIUS JOHARI

Slices of Heaven by Craig Gray located in Civic Center Park.

Left: Breaching Whale by Laguna artist Jon Seeman can be seen in Heisler Park. Above: California Scenario by Isamu Noguchi located in Costa Mesa. Below: The Bunnies, designed by PWP Landscape Architecture are a landmark of Civic Center Park.

“The sculptures are beautiful and hard to resist as they invite you to interact with the whimsy scenes.”

Fractured Peace by Nancy Mooslin on display at Civic Center Park.

Now that Zoom university is behind us, it may still be difficult to break free from our devices we’ve been stuck on for ten plus hours a day. You might not even know where to explore and still social distance while being in the outside world.

We got your back, take a stroll around these three accessible and free sculpture gardens located across Orange County.

Civic Center Park, Newport Beach

Just a short walk from Fashion Island, this hillside park is home to a rotating selection of whimsical sculptures. A winding dirt trail leads visitors through a landscaped terrain dotted with playful art. The sculptures are beautiful and hard to resist as they invite you to interact with the whimsy scenes.

Grab a famous Sprinkles cupcake from next door, smoke a bowl, and take time to wander through the circle of giant bunny statues and oversized orange slices. You won’t be disappointed, and your mind will appreciate the much-deserved break.

Noguchi Gardens, Costa Mesa

Nestled between busy office buildings sits Noguchi Garden, a courtyard statue exhibit that highlights California’s many ecosystems. Its beauty lies in the subtlety of artist Isamu Noguchi’s portrayal of native California elements.

Unlike other statue gardens, this hidden gem is purposeful and cohesive, creating a unique visitor experience.

While the garden itself is compact, the entire space offers numerous locations for cool photos filled with minimalistic backgrounds and sharp angles. The serene atmosphere makes it the perfect place to pause and reflect. Bring a journal, sit among the redwoods, and take a deep breath.

Heisler Park, Laguna Beach

Located in a city historically known as an artist community, it’s no surprise that Laguna Beach is home to an array of captivating public art. Many sculptures can be found scattered throughout the city, but Main Beach’s Heisler Park houses some of the more famous pieces, such as the 16foot “Breaching Whale” by Jon Seeman.

Heisler is situated along the top of a cliff that overlooks the coves below, giving visitors a scenic view of the ocean. It’s an excellent spot for a sunset date, and you can use the Laguna Beach interactive art brochure to plan out which sculptures you want to visit. For a day full of sun, waves, and art that captures the essence of calming beach vibes, this is the perfect place. TU SK