List of District Parks

Anisq'Oyo' Park

Beach Accesses

Camino Corto Open Space

Camino Pescadero Park

Children's Park

Del Playa Open Space

Del Sol Vernal Pool Reserve

Estero Park

Gaffney Park

Greek Park

Kid's Trail

Little Acorn Park

Pardall Gardens

People's Park

Pelican Park

Perfect Park

Rottappel Park

Sea Lookout Park

Sueño Park

Sueno Orchard

Tierra de Fortuna Park

Tipi Village

Trigo-Pasado Park

Walter Capps Park

Window To The Sea

Isla Vista Recreation and Park District - District Parks

 

• Park Facilities

 

 

MAJOR PARKS

These parks are the largest and most frequently used in Isla Vista. Read on to find out about each park's features for use by residents and visitors during community and family events

 

Anisq'Oyo' Park -

This park was the first community-instituted park in Isla Vista. The park was originally constructed by volunteers and was maintained by the District after its formation. The park islocated in the heart of town and features a rustic windmill (historic landmark), a large pond, grassy areas with picnic benches, and children’s play equipment. The freshwater pond provides habitat for ducks, egrets, herons, frogs, turtles, fish and other wildlife. The historic Anisq’Oyo’ Amphitheater is available for rent by public members and student organizations and is ideal for large public functions, containing restrooms, electrical outlets and a stage.

Estero Park- One of the largest parks in

Isla Vista, Estero Park is a large complex that runs between Camino del Sur and Camino Corto. It provides multiple opportunities for active recreation, such as outdoor basketball courts, a playing field, a disc golf course and children’s play equipment. The Isla Vista Teen Center, which offers tutoring, youth activities and a meeting place to local teens, is located in the park at the corner of Estero and Camino del Sur. Estero park also houses our all organic Community Gardens Project where gardeners may use their plots to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers for their own use. The iconic Red Barn set among the Estero Oaks, a mature grove-preserve in the park, calls back to Isla Vista’s ranch days.

Little Acorn Park -On the corner of Embarcadero del Mar and El Embarcadero, Little Acorn is only two blocks from the ocean. Landscaped with a large grassy open area, benches, and a bocce ball court, it is the perfect place for weekend relaxation and recreation. Little Acorn also contains a memorial to the 2001 Isla Vista Massacre.

 

 

People's Park- Just to the south of Anisq’Oyo’, alongside Embarcadero Hall, the open lawn and picnic benches of People’s Park provide the perfect place to relax between classes. It also has the practice basket for the Isla Vista Peace Disc Golf Course-where park users can perfect their putting skills.

 

Perfect Park - This park is located at the base of the Embarcadero Loop. Completed in 1995, Perfect Park was designed and built by community volunteers. Beautifully landscaped with improved paths and native coastal plants, it was intended to be an urban getaway for nature lovers and is ideal for bird watching, contemplation, outdoor reading and picnics. In 2003, the Perfect Park Peace Monument was built to commemorate peace activism in Isla Vista from the 70’s to the present.

 

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Tucked into neighborhoods throughout Isla Vista, these small parks serve as yards and playgrounds for people in this crowded area.

 

Children's Park - Built in an area of Isla

Vista densely populated with families, Children's Park contains sandy play equipment and benches. There is also a covered gazebo, a handball court, a small lawn area for group fun and BBQ for events. The Children's Park Recreation Program, for at-risk youth meets here on weekday afternooms for crafts and activities.

 

Greek Park - Located on the corner of Embarcadero del Norte and Segovia, this small complex contains a concrete gathering area, picnic tables and basketball courts. Many of the Greek houses in Isla Vista use this park for their fundraising events and volleyball tournaments.

 

Kid's Trail- Running from the back of Isla Vista Elementary School alongside the nature preserve and past the stables, through Tierra de Fortuna Park and over to Pasado Road, Kids’ Trail provides children and teachers with a convenient car-free pathway to and from school as well as to the beach.

 

Pardall Gardens - Located on Pardall, the most heavily traveled pedestrian and bicycle route to UCSB, this tiny park is surrounded by restaurants and businesses. A small oasis in the busy world, the park contains picnic tables and a grassy area with trees—perfect for lunch or study breaks

 

 

Sueño Orchard- Developed by the Park District in the 80s as a demonstration project, at one time the orchard contained over 30 kinds of trees, mostly fruit bearing, which were cultivated using organic methods and available to the public for consumption. Today, the orchard still contains many varieties, although some no longer produce fruit, and during the spring months, it contains a lush collection of flowers and greenery. The Isla Vista Peace Disc Golf Course begins here, with the first two holes winding around the center orchard area.

 

 

 

Sueño Park - This park was upgraded in 2002 and was funded by the 2000 Parks Water Bond Act in conjunction with the Park District. The playground equipment and the picnic tables were made with recycled materials and are accessible to mobility-impaired children.

 

 

Tierra de Fortuna Park - Located at the end of Fortuna Road on the far west end of Isla Vista, Tierra de Fortuna features a beautiful view of the mountains and trees, a vine-covered gazebo, picnic tables and a drinking fountain. Play options include swings, a slide, a sand pit with digger, a whirl (merry-go-round), a springy seesaw and a large dinosaur to climb on. This is one of the most-rented parks for birthday parties! The park also connects to Kids’ Trail.

 

Tipi Village- This park is landscaped with natural plants and is located adjacent to the red barn and community gardens at Estero Park. The location was one of political and social debate when it became the site of an experiment in living sustainably in which people formed a compound of Tipis. Today, the small park houses holes 3 and 4 of the Isla Vista Peace Disc Golf Course.

 

 

 

Trigo-Pasado Park - Serving as a pathway between Trigo and Pasado, the long stretch of lawn is perfect for a game of catch or for sunbathing. The park’s best feature however, is its 11’ climbing boulder which offers pure enjoyment and physical challenge. The picnic table and drinking fountain are great for rest and refreshment between climbing sessions.

 

 

BLUFFTOP PARKS

The main purpose of the blufftop parks is to provide residents and visitors with spectacular views of the surf and Channel Islands. Marine Wildlife, pelicans, gulls, a wide variety of seabirds, dolphins, whales and sea lions can be observed from the bluffs. Intended for passive recreational uses, these parks are fenced at the bluffs for safety and do not include restrooms, playfields or play equipment.

 

Beach Accesses-Beach accesses are owned by the county of Santa Barbara and provide a path to the beach all the way down the Isla Vista coastline. For a map of El Embarcadero, Camino Pescadero, Camino Corto, Escondido Pass and Camino Majorca accesses, click here.

 

Camino Pescadero Park - Completely

redone in 2002, Camino Pescadero boasts new walkways and native plantings winding around park benches, picnic tables and a drinking fountain. There is a recreational lawn and interpretive signs inform park users of the historical use of Santa Barbara Channel by the Chumash. Camino Pescadero is an excellent vantage point for viewing the ocean and the outdoor shower is a favorite with surfers and beachgoers.

 

Gaffney Park - A natural, open area adjacent to the County-owned Sea Lookout Park, Gaffney Park forms a transition between the busy park and nearby housing.

 

 

Pelican Park- Designed with education about

the Channel Islands in mind, Pelican Park has colorful signs which describe the marine wildlife that can be observed from the bluffs, such as gray whales and pelicans. Stone couches invite park users to sit back and enjoy the view among plants native to the Channel Islands. Art features, such as the drinking fountain inlaid with seashells and beach stones and the terrazzo ping-pong table with seaweed design, further enhance the Channel Islands theme.

Rottappel Park - This narrow open space provides another look at the ocean for residents and passersby. An adjacent county-owned lot (part of what is called Del Playa Open Space) broadens the Rottappel view.

 

 

Sea Lookout Park- The largest ocean-side park, this wide grassy stretch on Del Playa serves as a picnic spot and play area for hundreds of people a day. The volleyball court is popular for large and small groups alike and the wooden structures provide a nice place to look out over the ocean. Sea Lookout Park was developed by landscape artist Lloyd Hamrol, although it is still referred to fondly today as “Dog Shit Park”-a name which reflects its primary use as an empty lot throughout the 70s and 80s. Sea Lookout Park also has a plaque commemorating The Isla Vista Tree—a huge cypress hanging over the ocean that became a symbol of Isla Vista’s quest for self-governance. When the tree fell into the ocean, residents fought for the plaque to honor its importance to the people.

 

Walter Capps Park-This County-owned park was dedicated as “Walter Capps Park”on April 23, 2006 in tribute to the former congressman who took a special interest in Isla Vista affairs. The County of Santa Barbara hopes to develop the park in the future.

 

Window To The Sea - Located in a densely populated area of Isla Vista, Window to the Sea is a small gem of a park, filled with lush plantings. The park features a two-seater swing on a knoll that overlooks the ocean.

 

 

 

Natural Open Spaces

The District owns two large nature preserves/resoration projects that provide Isla Vista residents, students and visitors with places to observe native flora and fauna. A third open space area made up of county and District owned properties also provides this opportunity. During the rainy season, water gathers in vernal pools in these areas, attracting migratory birds. Plovers, Canada geese, duck, teal, owls, hawks, falcons, songbirds, various species of egret and heron and even an occasional ibis have been spotted! The three properties play an important role in a semi-contiguous string of riparian and freshwater open space preserves that run along the coastal mesa, providing a vital wildlife corridor. Press Release: Vernal Pools

Camino Corto Open Space-At 20.5 acres, this preserve borders on El Colegio and Camino Corto Roads and shares boundaries with Isla Vista Elementary School, UCSB Stables, Tierra de Fortuna Park and residential areas on Fortuna Road and Fortuna Lane. It contains restored native plants, restored vernal pools, Camino Corto Creek, nature trails, a bridge and educational signs.

 

 

Del Playa Open Space- This 8.21 acre space is made up of both county and District owned properties. It was originally purchased to preserve open space along the densely populated blufftop. Now that it is clear that it contains a vernal pool area, it is part of the natural and educational vernal pool projects.

 

 

 

Del Sol Vernal Pool Reserve-Bordering El Colegio and Camino Corto Roads and running along the back of residences on Abrego, Del Sol Open Space is approximately 12 acres and contains restored native plants, restored vernal pools, nature trails and educational signs

 

 

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