Chase Palm Park: Shipwreck Playground

Went with my 2 nieces and nephew, ages 11, 8, and 3. They all had a blast. It’s a clean park, somewhat small but not too crowded (we went on a Sunday around 5:00pm). I’d give it 5 stars, but had to take off a star due to the VERY limited parking (there are only about 3 dedicated spaces for the park). Then again, it was a weekend so the limited parking is understandable.

Great playground in SB. Totally looks like a shipwreck. They have separate play equipment for the younger (under 5 years old) and older (over 5 years old) kids. We were there on a Monday morning. Just a few kids around so my 3 year old had fun running around the place, without fear of being run over by older kids. Clean and well kept.

Outside of Fess Parker’s eyesore (the rainbow arch) and lack of parking there it is nearly impossible to find something wrong with Chase Palm Park. I actually go out of my way to find reasons to visit. Although the playground is designed for toddlers to preteens there is enough beauty for any adult.
Last week I walked here to sit down and read once the beach became a bit chilly. Even with all the water fountains turned off in the drought I had trouble deciding where to sit down.
Between the concerts at the park and the ornate carousel there truly is something for everyone. In fact, just writing this makes me want to visit again today.

Great park for our 2 & 4 yr old. They would’ve stayed longer if it didn’t start to get dark on us! Few different play areas, big sand area with climb on structures, clean restrooms, grass areas great for a picnic. Will be back again for sure!
Only con — no parking directly connected with the park, all street parking was full, so we had to park about a block down & across the street in a pay for parking lot.

Review for 4 & 6 year olds — they liked it a lot. I liked the clean-​ish bathrooms with soap. The mission structure is unique and fun for hide & seek. The kids especially liked the egg (?? weird, IMHO) and the «slanted deck» slide although it seemed relatively dangerous to me with kids sliding down, kids clambering up, and kids pouring sand on it. Somehow my 6 yo bumped his noggin in the mêlée and had quite a bruise to show for it the next day. It was a fine spot to spend a picnic lunch break until the smell from the adjacent water treatment plant came drifting over. I made the family pack it up then! Expect to park on the street, which has time limits but is free.

THE CREW HEADS TO WETTER GROUND!
BACKGROUND:
This long park borders both sides of Cabrillo Blvd. from the East Beach to Stearns Wharf. Much of it has been renovated recently and it has made this area a wonderful place for hanging out on a Sunday afternoon. On the harbor side there is a long bike and rollerblading trail, a skateboard park, a rec. house, and beach access. The long stretch of grass hosts soccer, Frisbee and dancing.
STATS:
Sunrise-​10pm
Skateboard Park 8am-​½ hr after sunset
OUR ROUTE:
Just a short walk from the Downtown Santa Barbara train station, me and The Crew make a way through this quaint park that runs parallel to the beach located across the street.
Meandering through 10-​acre park, visitors will see a carousel, fountains, creeks, WAIT… WHAT!!! CAROUSEL?! Like a merry-​go-​round? An amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders? Ok, I’ll get back to that in a couple lines or so. Park also has a lagoon, and snack bar, as well as Shipwreck Playground, which apparently is modeled after an ocean Schooner. Idk, I was overly focused on the Carousel, which several of us Crew peeps paid the said price, hopped up, over, and all around the up and down moving colorfully decorated horses. Goofy pics I tell ya, but not Unilocalable.
Additional info on Amtrak:
Chase Palm Park Center:
Walking along the palm trees lined park, with the ocean on the flip-​side of the street makes for a bery weelaxing afternoon, as well as a playful time at the Shipwreck Playground, where we took full advantage of all the nooks and crannies we could squeeze through, climb over and under.
If you ever require a respite from the flurry and hustle of the beach traffic on the other side of the street, get on over to the Chase Palm Park and don’t forget to get a ride on the merry-​go-​round. They won’t say anything if you put on your invisible monkey suit and go ape.

Nice local park. Seemed to have new playground equipment. Clean and had a pond area with ducks.

Nice bathrooms. There’s only 3 parking spaces. The playground is for kids 5 – 12, so no infant swings for my kid :(

Nice park for younger kids. Grounds well maintained. Not very busy for a Saturday mid afternoon in leek tourist season.

Another playground, nothing more nothing less. The kids had some fun but when we got there we were actually quite unimpressed. Spent about 20 minutes there and moved on. If you are coming here and expecting a cool and fancy play area, you might as well skip it. Have been to multiple neighborhood playgrounds with better facilities and play structures. If you are a kid under 7 years old, any play area is going to be fun, so this review is purely for the older kids and the adults that have to stick around while the kids play. Enjoy.

This was a fun place to hang out with the kids. We stopped by to play on our way up the coast. Both of our boys, 6 and 9, had a blast!

So cute. A little shady break from our walk along the arts and crafts fair. Bathrooms are nearby, though someone thought it would be fun to pee in the large shell-​like structure.
Bench tables are available, but seems to lack some shade. May be difficult for smaller kids, but the 5+yr olds seem to enjoy it. With my toddler, it was more of climbing some areas, without going through to many apparatuses. Didn’t really notice many swings around though too, but maybe I didn’t look hard enough. Either way, it had pretty walkways and garden surroudnings. Definately wish I has something nearby my home like this.

The BEST park I have ever been to! There is so much to do here, your kids will defiantly leave entertained. Highly reccomened!

Great Park for the kids. Our boys 5 & 6 loved it. They climbed up the ship structure and we spend ½ day here, after 2 hours, we walk up one block to the merry– go– around and it’s an old carousal from 1916, the boys ride on that and back to the park to do more climbing. There are plenty if trees if you want to sit in the shade. its right aross from the beach.

Forget the beach… we were driving down Cabrillo Blvd. with the Ocean on our right and this park on our left… what to do… what to do…
We chose the park and the toddler and I are glad we did!
Amazing shipwrecked theme play ground with huge life size sea creature sculptures that mist water every few minutes.
The playground has foam flooring for cushion or clean soft sand, no kitty litter contents here.
Beautifully landscaped paths and lawns, with tropical plants and flowers labeled. Nice size pond with huge Koi fish and a few ducks. Picnic tables scattered throughout.
North end of the park holds a wonderful surprise of an Antique Carousel with 5 minute rides for $ 2.
Clean bathrooms near the playground and carousel.
Great break from the beach for the toddler.
Parking on the street.

What a great playground! I loved the nods to local history included with the row of adobes kids can play in and the mural featuring the mountains. My kids loved the interactive walls that spew cool stem and squirt water from sea life sculptures. We spent a good three hours here before the little ones were hungry for lunch — wet and covered with sand, they had to be cleaned up before I could take them anywhere though!
Obviously well cared for, this playground is clean, has available bathrooms nearby and a carousel adjacent to it. Don’t be alarmed by the crowd of homeless on the other side of the large grassy field, they don’t seem to want any problems and they kept their distance during our entire visit.

A playground so distinct, well kept and child approved I made a special stop in Santa Barbara for my 2 year old son to play here. A great pit stop when on the road with little ones.