Is Pittsford Park Lake Forest's Best Park?

Back when I was a kid (which seems so very long ago), wasn’t much to write about. My cousin lived just down the street from the park, and whenever we had family get-togethers, we would often be sent to the Pittsford Park to play. Usually, we kids turned our noses up at the park and walked a bit farther to play on the equipment at . 

These days, though, no kid in his right mind would ever turn down the opportunity to spend a couple hours at one of Lake Forest’s best parks.

Families who live in Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills or closer to the 5 may not be as familiar with this park, but I am here to tell you it's worth hopping in the car and taking the 10-minute drive to visit.  One of my favorite things about the park is that there is a fence partially surrounding the playground and blocking access to the street.  This gives parents the opportunity to keep watch on more than one child without having to live in constant fear that one of their kids is going to make a mad dash for the street.

Another great aspect of the park is that it offers a playground that can be enjoyed by children of a wide range of ages and abilities.  The park is wheelchair-accessible and has a ramp that leads up to the top of one of the main play structures, allowing children with special needs the opportunity to enjoy the equipment with the other children.  There is also a special handicap-accessible swing that sits next to all the other typical swings, allowing children of all abilities to swing and laugh together.

My kids love Pittsford Park for all the fun and interesting pieces of play equipment.  Besides the usual slides and swings, there are also bright-red seats to spin on, a little zip line to hang on and, my personal favorite, a teeter-totter. My twins love the ability to play house at a table underneath the toddler play structure or perfect their hanging and swinging skills on the monkey bars.  The diversity of the equipment keeps the park feeling new for all the children who come to play.

Another fun way to enjoy the park is with a piece of cardboard.  Pittsford Park has plenty of great hills that kids love to run, roll and sled down (the latter being during the ). But lately I have seen quite a few kids sliding down on large flattened cardboard boxes.  That kind of old-fashioned fun brings me back to my own childhood, which involved a lot fewer electronics and a lot more imagination.

Pittsford Park is not just for kids. There are tennis courts that are free for all park-goers to use.  All you need is a racket and a ball.  The park is also home to some great outdoor concerts during the summer. My family rocked out to the Lovin’ Spoonful, a Journey cover band and former American Idol contestants.  All the concerts are free, fun and a great place to enjoy some quality time together as a family.

Pittford Park is located at 21701 Pittsford Dr. next to Lake Forest Elementary. Parking is available on the street adjacent to the park.