Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Waterfront Park and nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
How to get there
- Santa Fe Depot • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,635 within 3 miles
Attractions
526 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
92 reviews
Excellent
59
Very good
27
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
0
TheExplorerFamily
Somerset, NJ7,131 contributions
Jun 2021
This is a nice little park where children come with their families to frolic in the water feature with the arched jets over a shallow walkway, and play on the artistic and creative playground equipment. It is a very visually stimulating area with the use of all those bright colors and designs everywhere.
The entire design is very well planned out, and is dotted with tiled sculptures, statues of players, murals on the stairway to the parking lot, and lots of green space.
It has been a great addition to the downtown harbor area, and we even got to witness a stunning sunset while walking around.
Although there was street parking available because of the dearth of people around, we opted to park in the paid lot directly underneath the playground.
It was a great place to relax, and we watched with interest as a couple ran out of the County Administration Building across the street, and posed for photos in an arbor in the park with bouquets in hands. Cute!
Worth stopping here to take a look.
The entire design is very well planned out, and is dotted with tiled sculptures, statues of players, murals on the stairway to the parking lot, and lots of green space.
It has been a great addition to the downtown harbor area, and we even got to witness a stunning sunset while walking around.
Although there was street parking available because of the dearth of people around, we opted to park in the paid lot directly underneath the playground.
It was a great place to relax, and we watched with interest as a couple ran out of the County Administration Building across the street, and posed for photos in an arbor in the park with bouquets in hands. Cute!
Worth stopping here to take a look.
Written July 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,520 contributions
Jan 2020
The park is one of the nicest ever built. The water feature, creative play equipment, grassy spaces, picnic facilities, and sculptures set this park head and shoulders above others. There's an especially spectacular piece of sculpture there (for awhile though, as it is on loan) of a glittery, strong batter in Gwynn's classic stance.
His back shows the number 19; his concentration is palpable. Gwynn's stature, build, and athleticism has been captured so perfectly by the artist. All of our visits here bring us to this mosaic-studded bigger than life sculpture.
On an especially nice, warm January day (or as good as it gets in January) moms watched over small fries splashing in the fountain wading pond and the play equipment was also seeing good use. The setting could not possibly be more ideal.
His back shows the number 19; his concentration is palpable. Gwynn's stature, build, and athleticism has been captured so perfectly by the artist. All of our visits here bring us to this mosaic-studded bigger than life sculpture.
On an especially nice, warm January day (or as good as it gets in January) moms watched over small fries splashing in the fountain wading pond and the play equipment was also seeing good use. The setting could not possibly be more ideal.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heliana Mano
Mumbai, India2,864 contributions
Jul 2022
OMG! My sister who lives in San Diego brought us here with the kids to the splash park! This place is amazing for children. I can't recommend this enough. Where to start? So much to do, endless water play - kiddos literally couldn't get enough of it. And then a huge playground with so much to explore. Absolutely lovely. Get there early, find parking and plan to have sandos on the lawns or grab food nearby. Brilliant day outing. Can't wait to visit again when we are back to SD!
Written May 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dharu
Fremont, CA161 contributions
Nov 2020
One of my favorite parks. Our group loved loved loved spending time here. The park is very clean and well maintained. Plenty of street parking. The playground behind the fountain area is great for all ages
Written November 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Waddler
York, UK12,542 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Kids won't resist the shallow pools and water fountains. They had great fun - bring a change of clothes!
Nice views from the park. Playground is modern though it feels like it could be better. For a start, the slides were way too hot to use being metal and in the direct sun - this couldn't be a surprise in San Diego so I'd have thought they'd have planned around it.
Nice views from the park. Playground is modern though it feels like it could be better. For a start, the slides were way too hot to use being metal and in the direct sun - this couldn't be a surprise in San Diego so I'd have thought they'd have planned around it.
Written September 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raymond C
Stoughton, MA65 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Very nice clean park.
Well maintained wall mannered people.
Penty of room for social Distance.
There are swings throughout the park nice little marina.
Getting there is easy. Not too much traffic .
Parking metters ..
Nice Fall hangout.
Well maintained wall mannered people.
Penty of room for social Distance.
There are swings throughout the park nice little marina.
Getting there is easy. Not too much traffic .
Parking metters ..
Nice Fall hangout.
Written September 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John T
Cebu City, Philippines1,013 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
In May 2014, the 12-acre County Administration Center Waterfront Park opened on both the north and south sides of the building, formerly surface parking lots. There are open grassy areas, drought-tolerant flower gardens, picnic areas, playground with swings and slides, and an interactive water fountain. The garden has matured nicely since it's construction and is a beautiful place to visit when in SD.
Written June 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
776GregC
Vestavia Hills, AL79 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
This is a great park to go to for a beautiful sunset. The bay was full of sail boats and the sunset cast great light and shadow on the water. The park is clean and dog friendly. Fun people-watching spot too.
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
623DBAX
Phoenix, AZ214 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
The views, the equipment, the water feature, the gardens, even the fact there's security hanging around make this a huge asset to the downtown waterfront. Our boys (6 & 8) had a blast here for a couple hours, even after they'd been romping in the ocean for most of the day before we got there. We were staying at the Residence Inn across the way (great place btw, see my review), and mom wanted some quiet (a nap) before dinner later on. I walked w/ the boys across PCH and in to the park. They went nuts running through the water. They played on the swings, the slides, the rock walls, some crazy spider web type climby thing too. This park has some unique stuff also, my favorite was a skateboard sized metal (w/ deck tape on top to provide traction) uh, deck, on top of a spring loaded rod which moves laterally and up and down. Hella tricky for an old fart like me to master, but I couldn't get my 8 year old off of it who rode it like Tony Hawk on Christmas w/ his first penny board. Super use of space for the city, kudos on a job well done.
Written June 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith
10 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
If you want to enjoy San Diego and the nice weather of San Diego you have to visit this park, plenty of stuff you can do, just sitting on the bench and looking at the view is great. I highly recommend that you visit this park if you visiting San Diego
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalyn N
McKinney, Texas
Where is the best free parking by Waterfront Park? Or will we need to pay for all parking?
Written July 1, 2022
I don't see why not, although there are benches around to sit on. To be clear, this park has a view of the harbor across the street but there is nothing beachy about it. It's a city park with gardens, playground, and fountains for splashing. Enjoy!
Written June 2, 2017
Are there any covered pavilions available for birthday parties for children?
How far is it from the cruise terminal ?
What types of food is available at the snack shack?
Thank you for you help...Ruth
Written August 16, 2016
I'm not sure about covered pavilions, I didn't see any but I've seen people have birthday parties for children here.
The cruise terminal is a few blocks away, but by blocks, I mean lonnng blocks of it. If you don't mind walking, it's fine.
Typical sodas, chips, candy type stuff are available at the snack shack
Written August 17, 2016
Showing results 1-6 of 6
Related Stories
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing