Isla Vista District Parks
Central Downtown Parks
Anisq’Oyo’ Park
Estero Park
Little Acorn Park
People’s Park
Perfect Park
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 is located 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.
View photos, location, and more (click here)
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.
View photos, location, and more (click here)
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.
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 ’70s to the present.
Neighborhood Parks
Children’s Park
Greek Park
Sueño Orchard
Sueño Park
Tierra De Fortuna Park
Tipi Village
Trigo – Pasado Park
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 a BBQ for events. The Children’s Recreation Program for at-risk youth meets here weekday afternoons and is also the departure location for over 300 field trips per year.
Greek Park
Located on the corner of Embarcadero Del Norte and Segovia, this small park includes picnic tables, basketball courts, and volleyball courts. Many of the Greek houses in Isla Vista use this park for their fundraising events and volleyball tournaments.
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 it contains a lush collection of fruits, 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 sandpit with a 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 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.
Bluff-Top Parks
Pelican Park
Sea Lookout Park
Window to the Sea
Gaffney Park
Rottappel Park
Beach Accesses
Walter Capps Park
Camino Pescadero Park
Pelican Park
County-owned and 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.
Sea Lookout Park
Owned by Santa Barbara County. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Rottappel Park
This narrow open space provides another look at the ocean for residents and passersby. An adjacent county-owned lot broadens the Rottappel view.
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, Sueño, Escondido Pass and Camino Majorca accesses, click here.
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 has approved plans to develop the park (pending securing funding).
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.
Natural Open Spaces
Camino Corto Open Space
Del Playa Open Space
Del Sol Vernal Pool Reserve
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, 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 native plants, vernal pools, nature trails, and educational signs.
Central Downtown Parks
These parks are located in the central business district and are frequently utilized for community events including Festivals, stage shows, concerts, and outdoor movies.
Neighborhood Parks
These small parks serve as yards and playgrounds for people who live in this high-density community.
- Children’s Park
- Greek Park
- Kid’s Trail
- Pardall Gardens
- Sueño Orchard
- Sueño Park
- Tierra De Fortuna Park
- Tipi Village
- Trigo – Pasado Park
Bluff-Top Parks
Bluff-top parks 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 edge of the bluffs for safety, and do not include restrooms, playfields, or play equipment.
- Beach Accesses
- Camino Pescadero Park
- Gaffney Park
- Pelican Park
- Rottappel Park
- Sea Lookout Park
- Walter Capps Park
- Window To The Sea
Natural Open Spaces
The District maintains approximately 37 acres of protected natural open space and vernal pools. These lands provide Isla Vista residents, students, and visitors with opportunities to observe and learn about native flora and fauna. During the rainy season, water gathers in the vernal pools and attracts a wide variety of migratory birds. Canada geese, White-tailed Kites, Great Horned Owls, hawks, falcons, Black Crowned night Herons, Great Blue Herons, Egrets, and various species of songbirds are frequently seen in the open spaces. These 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.
