LeBard Park

History and Location

LeBard Park is a neighborhood park spanning approximately 11.49 acres in Huntington Beach, California. It is situated at the base of a hill near the Santa Ana River Bicycle Trail.

The park was dedicated on May 22, 1970, and was named after the adjacent LeBard School.

Recreation Facilities

The park features a combination of active and passive recreational areas. It includes six softball fields that are frequently used for little league games. SeaView Little League utilizes LeBard Park as its main field for games, while practices are held at various locations depending on field allocations and coaches' schedules.

In addition to the softball fields, LeBard Park offers four tennis courts and a modern playground. The playground area features rubber matting and consists of two separate structures - one designed for children aged 2-5 with climbing structures and swaying platforms, and another for children aged 5-12 with rope climbing structures, slides, a tire swing, and a zipline.

The park provides shaded areas and picnic facilities, including benches, for visitors to enjoy. Parking is available both in a lot and on the street for convenient access.

Recent Improvements

The City of Huntington Beach has been working on improvements to LeBard Park. Phase 2 of these improvements includes the complete refurbishment of the tennis courts and some landscape enhancements.

The small clubhouse building, which was previously used for league signups, has been removed as it was beyond repair. While a new building is not currently funded, there have been requests to replace it in the future.

Surrounding Area

LeBard Park's location near the Santa Ana River adds to its appeal. The river, one of Southern California's longest, stretches nearly 100 miles from the San Bernardino mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

A pedestrian and bicycle bridge at the park spans the river, connecting to several beautiful parks in Costa Mesa, including Talbert Regional Park, Vista Park, and Fairview Park. The bridge provides access to a bike path that leads all the way to the beach, making it popular with cyclists, walkers, and hikers. Some visitors also enjoy fishing along the riverbank.

Visitor Information

The park features large grassy areas ideal for informal sports and recreation. While there is space suitable for soccer, no permanent goals are set up.

Restrooms are available but are only open during baseball games. Trash bins are provided throughout the park, but visitors should note there are no water fountains available.

Visitors should be aware that coyotes have been spotted in the area, so proper precautions should be taken, especially with small pets and children.