April 18, 2024

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the City of Garden Grove and community celebrated the opening of a new citrus farm-themed playground at Magnolia Park, located at 11402 Magnolia Street. Hundreds of community members—including descendants of the original landowners, the Wakeham family—enjoyed a ribbon-cutting ceremony, themed giveaways, and treats.

“Parks are an important part of our lives and our communities, and I’m so proud that we make them a priority in Garden Grove. This park especially, because it honors Garden Grove’s agricultural roots and the early landowners who chose to settle here and develop our community,” said Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones.

The new play area includes rubberized play surfacing and citrus farm-themed playgrounds for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, with colorful play structures, a two-story spiraling slide, an inclusive orbital spinner, and an ADA-accessible swing set. Along the perimeter of the play area are new outdoor fitness equipment, allowing caregivers to exercise while safely watching their children.

The citrus farm-themed playground honors Magnolia Park’s roots as the land was once owned by the Wakeham family and was used as their home and citrus farm from the 1920s to the 1960s.

“Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of watching this park be brought back to its new life, while still keeping its original spirit,” said Garden Grove Community Services Director John Montanchez.

Visitors can learn more about the park’s past by scanning a QR code placed on the playground signage, directing them to ggcity.org/magnoliaparkhistory, a digital archive detailing the park’s history.

The new playground is part of an overall park improvement project that also includes a complete resurfacing of the main parking lot, new perimeter pool fencing, and a new picnic shelter with new picnic tables with an ADA-accessible walkway. The remodel of Magnolia Park was funded by a $284,822 Proposition 68 per capita grant and the Citywide Park Fee fund, without any financial impact on the City’s general fund.

Photos from the event can be found on the City’s Facebook @gardengrovecityhall.