Huntington Beach Has 78 Parks - These are the 10 Best

Named for its location, Bluff Top Park is a prime spot in Huntington Beach for overlooking what makes the destination so iconic - 10 miles of Pacific Ocean views and the historic Huntington Beach Pier. The 19.66-acre park is located at 2201 Pacific Coast Highway and it plays host to a walking path along the beach with benches and picnic tables, as well as Patriot Point between Goldenwest Street and PCH. As of March 2022, the park's bluff top guardrail has been replaced and construction has begun on the widening of the multi-use trail. Future renovations include replacing the access ramp and stairway railing, mitigating turf, and enhancing landscaping at public access nodes. 

Tucked away in a residential area off of Goldenwest and Ellis, Baca Park gives visitors a quintessential peace and quiet park experience. The park, at 7329 Sherwood Drive, spans 14.35 acres. It includes a children's play area with play structure, lawn volleyball courts, half-court basketball, picnic tables and benches, open grassy play areas, and a walking path. The park was originally called Seagate or Sherwood Park, but was renamed in 2001 to honor John Baca, a Medal of Honor Recipient from the Vietnam War. 

Boasting a whopping 343.24 acres, Huntington Central Park is the largest city-owned park in Orange County. The peaceful open grass fields and extensive tree and flower plantings can be used for endless activities including picnics, biking, playing, and strolling along the paved paths enjoying the serene atmosphere. Park entrances can be found on Edwards, Goldenwest, Gothard, Slater, Talbert, and Ellis Streets. The park features four playgrounds, a nature center, fishing, frisbee/disc golf course, horseshoes, lakes, equestrian trails, a dog park, an exercise course, and three restaurants. The Senior Center and Central Library - housing the largest children's library west of the Mississippi -  are also located in Central Park. 

Worthy Park is a 6.61-acre park surrounded by residential areas, making it very family-friendly. The space is dedicated to Norman Worthy, the father of the Huntington Beach park system, who was a HB native and acquired 626 acres of parkland and developed 57 park sites. Worthy Park is located next to Huntington Beach High School on the corner of Main Street and 17th Street. Visitors can enjoy picnic tables, open play areas, playgrounds, a soccer field, a softball field, and perhaps most notably, pickleball courts.

Named for the adjacent Edison High School, Edison Park was transformed by the City of Huntington Beach from a landfill into a serene recreational area in the 70's. Edison Park is the place to be for 200+ quality recreation classes and activities for adults, teens, and kids including Zumba, guitar, fitness classes, boot camps, pilates, dog training, summer camps, skating, and more. Visitors are welcome to play basketball, racquetball, or handball on the courts, which are lit until 10 p.m. every night.

Norma Gibbs Park had not seen a monarch butterfly for 10 years prior to its first restoration in 2008. After adding milkweed, which is the only food source for the monarch caterpillar, to the park's flower beds, over 200 migrating butterflies flocked to the park in 2013. For this reason, Gibbs Park is also widely known as Butterfly Grove. The park was formerly known as Sims Grove Park, but was renamed for the 1975-1976 Huntington Beach Mayor Norma Brandel Gibbs. The 6.83-acre piece of land welcomes visitors with a playground, picnic tables, large grass areas, benches, and plenty of street parking. It also houses an original mosaic explaining the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. 

Lake Park was the second park ever developed in Huntington Beach. The land was purchased in 1912, and was named for the small fly-fishing lake (now filled in with a children's playground). Located at the corner of 11th and Lake Street, the 4.75-acre land holds a children's play area, picnic facilities, barbecues, open play areas, and horseshoes. 

16.04-acre Murdy Park is home to the first skating facility every built in Orange County. It includes four lighted tennis courts, two lighted softball fields, four lighted basketball courts, a skate park, and a jungle gym. The Community Center - also the first community center in Huntington Beach - has four meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a studio available for a wide range of recreation programs and classes for visitors of all ages. 

Harriett M. Wieder Park is a 4-acre developed park that includes restrooms, a 24-car parking lot, open turf area for picnics, granite pathways, toddler and child playground equipment, outdoor exercise equipment, native plants, and a scenic viewpoint. The park was originally designed to harmonize with the original environment and it's graded to recycle water run-off. Rain and irrigation water is captured on-site to replenish groundwater using a bio-swale system that collects site nuisance water. There are also approximately 30 acres of park that feature native plants, a seasonal creek lined with willow trees, and multi-use trails. 

Davenport Beach Park is also known as Mother's Beach and is primarily accessed by locals living in and around Huntington Harbour. It can be accessed via Davenport Drive just before you drive over the bridge entering Davenport Island. This small beach is ideal for launching kayaks or as a quiet spot to sunbathe and read. There is no lifeguard staff on duty and parking is rather limited, but this little slice of peaceful paradise is well worth it.