Community Corner
Patch Picks: Best Local Parks
Nothing says summertime better than an afternoon at the local park. It's where families unite, parties take place and kids beat the heat and summertime boredom. Check out our picks for the best parks in town.
STARLIGHT RIDGE PARK
Meandering Trail and Starlight Ridge (in the Las Flores development), Rancho Santa Margarita
This park may be one of the area’s best kept secrets. Moms will love the covered picnic benches and huge tot lot complete with slides, ladders and a pirate ship for little ones to explore. There’s also an exciting water feature to cool kids down during the hot summer months; must be a resident of Las Flores to turn the feature on with key fob (but we’re pretty sure you can crash this party when it’s 95 degrees outside!). Dads can enjoy the tennis courts nestled against the mountainside, and teens will love the huge open grassy area to kick a soccer ball around.
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CENTRAL PARK
30482 La Miranda, Rancho Santa Margarita
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Every city needs a Central Park (think the Big Apple!). Rancho Santa Margarita’s is one of the best in south Orange County. Complete with a tot lot, playground, picnic tables, grills, and huge grassy hills for the kids to roll down (endless hours of free fun!) this is the place to be all summer long. The enclosed skating facility, Skate Central, is also a popular feature. The RSM summer concert series takes place here, too.
LAGO SANTA MARGARITA PARK
21472 Avenida De Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita
Otherwise known as the RSM “beach club” this is hands down one of the top reasons to make your home in Rancho Santa Margarita. The “lago” includes boating, fishing, kayaking, a mile-long walking path, exercise course, lagoon, barbecues, picnic area, volleyball courts and restrooms. Why waste gas and fight the crowds at the beach when you can have just as much fun in your own backyard?
SOLANA PARK
29199 Melinda Road, Rancho Santa Margarita
This neighborhood park just might be the perfect place to host your next party. A large covered gazebo is perfect for picnicking and includes multiple barbecues. Also included in this park are two large baseball fields (think church softball game!), restrooms and a recently renovated tot lot and playground for young ones. There’s ample parking here too, which is always a plus.
