grape day park

sandpaperboy

Grape day park has some neat attractions, the weather is almost always nice and under the trees you can find some peaceful shade in the summer but for the same reason the park has a large homeless and vagrant community. Locals are not usually daunted by the homeless knowing them to be mostly self contained, but outsiders from as close as La Jolla or Del Mar find it off putting to visit. The slides and grape themed playground is one of my kids favorites in town and the city pools have fun summer swimming lessons. The old trains and train station are fun photo opportunities but the overall rating is low because of the company.

Aikenfans

This is worth seeing. Restored buildings, with historic displays. The original train station and more. It is not a huge place, so it will not take up a lot of time to see it.

gabecasta

When I have passed by the park it seems like there are people congregating in a spot, possibly homeless which seems pretty sad but some friends who live close to the park took us over to walk the park and I was pleasantly surprised what a nice walk it. I love the old partial train where you can take pictures, the old stable where you see people welding or something creative, there are quite a few things to see and you can talk to some of those that hang out there and everyone seemed friendly.

lisak56

Beautiful trees, historic Victorian House tours, the original public library for Escondido, train depot and train car tours. Great opportunity to learn about the rich history of Escondido, CA.

hortonms

The park is lovely with fun and interactive exhibits but it's overrun with indigent and other unsavory characters, not a place for children to play and explore the City needs to be more diligent in the cleanliness and safety here...sadly! This is not a park for kids to play...

337wandah

It was great to bring the kids and watch a movie outside. Bathrooms are available and it has play equipment for children.

davebX9262RZ

This is just down the hill and extremely convenient for us. Dog walkers take note, this is a great park to exercise your animals. Maintained open spaces, in fact, the park is kept up better then most that I have scene. Typical park, lawns, trees,open spaces, ball fields, rest rooms, I have not heard much about "trouble" in the park for the last 26 years like some other places. Heavily used by the Spanish community. You will love the smells of their BBQs. Everyone seems to get together here. I wonder what the secret is?

houstontosandiego

This park could be so much more, but the homeless have claimed it as their own. Amazing that it is next door to city hall and the council chambers, yet nothing is done. The attractions are so-so, The maintenance of the park is sub-standard, the restrooms are filthy.There are a few restaurants across Broadway, George's has pretty good burgers if you want to eat your lunch in the park, but the parade of homeless people asking for money will run you off quickly. There are good eating establishments down Grand as well. Suggest Kit Carson park for a decent environment for your children.

Gaylers7

For one of the only parks in Escondido, this one needs some maintenance and a facelift. It is in a great location and near several places to eat but it is just a bit ran down.

dstucke

One look turned us away. Lots of open green space and a monument or two, but the number of homeless folks lying about put us off spending any significant time there.After beginning to feel threatened we moved on back to Grand Ave.

Mglluvsun

the park gets attention the minute you drive by, however the park itself is boring for the kids. It only has one slide inside the "grape" and the "vine" is for the kids to climb. That is all.The portable bathrooms are never clean, always sting and with flies all around. I been to this park few times and had to stop going because there are no clean bathrooms. Around the park you have an old train with is nice to see.

rcurry17

For a free field trip, this is the place to go for Escondido students. When we studied the city in a 1st/2nd grade combo class, this local park provided docents and lots of hands on opportunities. A train car was great for climbing on, and for the politer (girls) there was a tour of a replica of a period house.

bj843

It has got some nice grass and a little bit of play structures for kids. I think they launch the fireworks from here too.

BobandJan66

Despite what you might be reading elsewhere, this is a nice small historical park, albeit used sometimes by transients. There were Park employees there watching for any trouble the whole time we were there.The 5 or 6 historic buildings in the park were brought there, or recreated there, from former locations elsewhere in town. One of the buildings is a former old library building for Escondido, and now serves as the visitor center for the Park, and as the local historical society building. Lots of great old photographs reprinted and enlarged for easy viewing here. Other buildings include the old Santa Fe Railroad Depot for Escondido, and an old railroad car sitting next to it. The staff will let you into the Railroad Depot upon request, and it is done up nicely as a museum of old railroading in town.Escondido has a long association with grape growing (along with gold mining and other fruit growing), and hence the name of the park. Make sure you see the grapevine "sculpture" in the kids playground here. Very unique.

Shelagh000

I love the huge grapes that are for the kids to play on. But it is a gathering place for the homeless. Several historic buildings here. Every year there is a free concert by the San Diego Symphony, and that is very nice