A Few of Our Favorite Monterey County Parks

For a kid, there is nothing quite like the exhilaration of exploring a new park! From pump tracks to hiking trails to birthday party venues, Monterey County has a wide variety of parks to get outside and play. How many of these family favorites have you visited?

MARINA

Marina Library Park (Locke-Paddon). This playground right outside the Marina Library is surrounded by beautiful trees and picnic tables. It features a new Martin Luther King, Jr. sculpture garden. This sculpture by artist Barrington C. McLean is surrounded by etched pavings of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Come out for kindness rock painting each Saturday from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. outside the library. Bathrooms are available during library hours.

Glorya Jean Tate Park. This park has recently undergone major improvements and now features Monterey County’s first pump track! Bike enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy the 30,000-square-foot paved pump track. Skateboarders or scooter riders are welcome, too. There is a smaller area for beginners. In addition to the pump track, Glorya Jean Tate Park features a playground, field, and picnic area. There is parking available and the park is dog-friendly.

MONTEREY

Dennis the Menace Playground. This iconic Monterey park was designed by the creator of Dennis the Menace and features a snack shack, paddle boats, and several play structures for kids of all ages. There is a parking lot and bathroom available. This popular park is busy on the weekends so visit on a weekday for a less crowded experience.

Hilltop Park. This 2.8-acre park has a gated-in toddler structure, basketball and tennis courts, and views of the ocean! It has a grassy field to play soccer or toss a frisbee. The on-site community room can be rented out and offers classes for adults and children. There is a preschool on-site so the park is closed from 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on weekdays during this time.

SALINAS AND PRUNEDALE

Manzanita Park.  Manzanita Park is a large county park with seven miles of dog- and horse-friendly trails. There are soccer and baseball fields, restrooms, and a playground that recently got a makeover.

Tatum’s Garden. Founded in 2013, Tatum’s Garden is the first fully accessible playground in the tri-county area and is managed by the Tatum’s Garden Foundation. The park has a parking lot and large restroom facilities. The farm-themed playground features slides, climbing structures, and instruments. Local mother Monika Schmidt mentions, “I love that you can hold birthday parties there if you are early enough to grab a table.”

Toro Park. Toro Park is a 4,756-acre county park that is dog friendly with over 20 miles of hiking trails. It has playgrounds, fields, and bathrooms. This is a great location to see wildlife and wildflowers in the spring. There are several barbecue picnic areas that you can rent out for a special event.