Check mark: Yorba Linda’s beloved Adventure Playground is still a place of exploration and fun after a $7 million renovation.
Community leaders, invited guests and, most importantly, several children, got a sneak peek at the park’s new features Friday night, putting them through their paces.
Natalie Brandeis, 16, slides down from one of the three towers that form the play structure at the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The newly renovated Adventure Playground features a splash pad and and play structure with three towers in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
A water slide is one of the many features of the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Graham Spencer, 2, Owen Lawrence, 3, and Max Lawrence, 6, from left, all of Yorba Linda play on the wiffleball field at the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Vida Palacios checks out the splash pad at the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda Mayor Gene Hernandez welcomes invited guests to the unveiling of the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Yorba Linda city manager Mark Pulone, councilperson Beth Haney, Mayor Pro Tem Tara Campbell, Mayor Gene Hernandez, councilperson Janice Lim and councilman Carlos Rodriguez, from left, join in cutting the ribbon for the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
People try out the play structure that features three towers with roped bridges connecting them at the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. The City of Yorba Linda held a ribbon cutting to unveil the new playground. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Derek Ngo, 10, tries out the new zipline at the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Taryn Litfin, 12, takes a ride down the water slide at the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. In addition to the water slide, the Adventure Playground features a play structure, splash pad, wiffleball field and a zipline. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mayor Gene Hernandez addresses invited guests at the unveiling of the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Noah Maddox, 8, of Placentia races down the water slide at the newly renovated Adventure Playground in Yorba Linda on Friday, April 14, 2023. The playground will be open year round for summer camp opportunities as well as school-year programming. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
“This is so great, just a fun place for kids to go and be adventurous,” said Cindy Maddox, visiting with a neighbor. “It is so well thought out and going to be a great thing for the community, I think.”
New features include suspension bridges connecting three towers of a play structure; a splash pad, but this is just a concrete slab with some sprinklers, this is 5,000-square-feet with a waterfall boulder, rocks to clamber over and water sprays; two water slides, including one that stretches more than 170 feet; and bathrooms onsite. There is also a lot more shade offered.
And community favorites, like the opportunity to build forts and the zipline remain – there are now two 100-foot lines for children to ride. And there is the wiffleball field.
“It’s taken a lot of work by a big team of people to reopen this special facility, and while it’salways amazing to see a concept take shape in real life, the execution of this project is trulyexceptional,” Mike Kudron, the city’ s parks and recreation director, said. “As a result, Yorba Linda residents are going to enjoy Adventure Playground for decades to come.”
“Adventure Playground is one of Yorba Linda’s most cherished traditions,” Mayor Gene Hernandez said. “The unique spirit of freedom and creative play that makes Adventure Playground so special permeates this entire project, and we are thrilled to see how this facility will bring imagination to life for a whole new generation.”
City officials expect to announce soon an opening date later this month for the playground, but summer camps are already planned, check online at YLRecOnline.com for more information.
