This week, our parents’ guide to local city parks stops in Cardiff.
GLEN PARK
(2149 Orinda Dr.)
With plenty of space to play and to picnic, this park is a great spot for a daylong visit. New playground equipment has recently been installed, giving the site a fresh feel as well as plenty of opportunities for kids to climb, slide and swing. The playground is near the tennis and basketball courts and, on a recent weekday, a group of moms had set up shop on the sandy volleyball space. There’s a pit nearby for a game of horseshoes if you bring your own. Picnic tables can be found near the playground area, making it easy to keep an eye on one kid while another takes a snack break. The path away from the playground leads to more tables and grassy hills perfect for rolling down or pausing to enjoy the view of the ocean or the blur of a passing train. Restrooms are at the top of a hill above the playground, and a 7-Eleven is within walking distance for any last-minute supplies.
CARDIFF SPORTS PARK
(1661 Lake Dr.)
This deluxe park is ideal for kids of all ages. Most local parents with kids in sports are probably well acquainted with the softball and soccer fields—on a recent summer day, a couple of soccer camps occupied the upper fields, while a few adults kicked a ball around during an informal pickup game. If you can score a spot, it’s a great place to get a group of kids together to burn off some of that excess summer energy. For younger ones, there’s a play area and a wide grassy space on the other side of the sports fields where mellow toddlers can test out their new running and walking skills. Restrooms are on site.
All That Jazz
Pep up your midweek with an evening of jazz courtesy of Peter Sprague and Leonard Patton. This free concert begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (today) at the Cardiff Library, 2081 Newcastle Ave. friendscardifflibrary.org.
Hot Fun in the Summertime
Leucadia’s Summer Fun on the 101: A Festival of Surfy Music takes place July 8-9. On Friday, July 8, bands like The Fink Bombs, Space Nature and Aloha Radio play at Lou’s Records (434 N. Coast Highway 101) starting at 6 p.m., and at Ducky Waddle’s (414 N. Coast Highway 101) at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, a music marathon takes place from noon to 8:30 p.m. at Leucadia Roadside Park (860 N. Coast Highway 101), followed by a nighttime show at 8:30 at Surfy Surfy (978 N. Coast Highway 101). The July 9 lineup includes Starfish, Slacktone, Tower 7 and Tropical Breeze. The festival is presented by the Leucadia 101 MainStreet Association and is free to the public. summerfun101.com.
