Pleasant Valley Fields in Camarillo

Pleasant Valley Fields, located at 100 Village at the Park Drive in Camarillo off the Dawson 101 exit is an expansive, flat 55 acre park, with 23 acres of grass fields, including 10 full-size soccer and softball fields. There are 3 restrooms, a small playground area geared towards 5 to 13 year olds and nearly 600 parking spots. The park opened in Spring 2010.

View of Pleasant Valley Fields looking from east to west.

Playground area at Pleasant Valley Fields.

On the east side of Pleasant Valley Fields is an entrance to the Calleguas Creek Bike Path, a roughly 2 mile south/northbound bike path protected from vehicular traffic. Great for a family bike ride!

Playground Next to the Ventura Pier

Click the image for more information about this playground area adjacent to the Ventura Pier.

Interpretative Playground at Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center

There is quite a neat little interpretative play area at the City of Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center at 29900 Ladyface Court. It has a Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area theme, including a slide, climbing wall, track ride and more. There's a gigantic Rattlesnake Seating Wall, Mountain Lion Climber, Bobcat Climber and Hawk Track Ride. More on the Recreation Center at

Dos Vientos Neighborhood Park in Newbury Park

Dos Vientos Neighborhood Park is a 5 acre park located at the corner of Lynn Road and Via Andrea in Newbury Park. This is a a low-key neighborhood park with some, but not a lot, of parking available along Via Andrea.  It has a large grassy area, sand volleyball court, playground area, basketball court, four picnic tables and BBQ grills and a small restroom.  More information at the Conejo Recreation and Park District website at www.crpd.org/parkfac/parks/dosvientosneighborhood.asp.

Rotary Dreamcatcher Playground at Old Meadows Park in Thousand Oaks

Old Meadows Park at 1600 Marview Drive, Thousand Oaks houses the Therapeutic Recreation Unit of the Conejo Recreation and Park District, which provides recreation programs for Conejo Valley residents with disabilities.

The park includes a one-of-a-kind "SensAbility Playground," an interactive play area stimulating senses and abilities. The playground contains mat surfacing, rolling turf hills, large shaded areas, tree log swings, seagull swings, harmony chimes, hammocks, pod seats, picnic tables and many other cool features.

The area also features a butterfly garden, physical development apparatus with features that encourage climbing, crawling, jumping and so on, sensory processing and calming features and features that encourage socialization.

There are active and passive play areas allowing children to engage in stimulating activities, and areas to which they can retreat and calm themselves after anxiety-producing experiences while remaining close by to other children, parents or caregivers.

The playground features many unique play pieces including "Playville" miniature village, elevated sand table, "Sand Works", one back hoe digger, Tenor Marimba (a xylophone-like musical piece), Talking Bob, talking horns, a sign language panel and several sensory panels. 

The Ant Hill at Thousand Oaks Community Park

The Ant Hill at Thousand Oaks Community Park is a small hill made with artificial grass covering that provides a fun play slide area for kids. Bring some cardboard! It is located adjacent to a nice playground area and the tennis courts. The park is at 2525 N. Moorpark Road. 

Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley

Santa Susana Park is a quiet park adjacent to the Santa Susana Railroad Depot in Simi Valley. There is a large play area, grassy picnic areas as well as a covered picnic area, restrooms and more. But of particular interest to my kid are the large sandstone rock formations they climbed into and onto. The park is located at 6503 Katherine Road, off of Kuehner. More information at www.rsrpd.org/simi_valley/parks/santa_susana_park.php.

Parks In and Around Ventura County

There's dozens of local area parks highlighted at THIS LINK that have play areas for the kids.

The Do Something section of the site has even more parks compiled at THIS LINK. All told we have well over 300 parks to park ourselves in and around Ventura County and adjacent areas.

So grab that leash and see you at the park!

Indian Springs Park in Oak Park

Indian Springs Park, located at the corner of Rockfield Street and Hawthorne Drive in Oak Park, is a nice sized, flat residential park with a number of amenities. The park has two playgrounds (bigger kids and little kids), tennis courts, baseball fields, basketball court, restrooms and more. Visit www.rsrpd.org/oak_park/parks/indian_springs_park.php or call 805.584.4400 for more information.

Indian Springs Park is located at the corner of Rockfield Street and Hawthorne Drive in Oak Park.

Tomol Interpretative Play Area at Carpinteria State Beach

Located at 390 Linden Avenue, Carpinteria, at the northern corner of Carpinteria State Beach Park, the Tomol Interpretive Play Area opened in 2011 through the cooperative efforts of California State Parks, the Morning Rotary Club of Carpinteria, and the City of Carpinteria.

The play area, universally accessible by all visitors, features a Chumash Indian village with slides, cave, sandstone boulders, a "tomol" plank boat, rainbow bridge and other play structures. Definitely something to stop by and check out with your little ones when you are in the area.

The interpretive play area was awarded the Universal Access Award by California State Parks for “outstanding achievement in increasing universal access” by all visitors regardless of physical limitations.