We are lucky in Chico to have so many great playgrounds and parks to explore. From swings and slides to climbing walls and water features, Chico's parks and playgrounds keep my kids active, are a great place to meet old friends (and make new friends!), and they're FREE!
Here are my family's five favorite parks with playgrounds to visit in Chico.
Locations are listed alphabetically:
DeGarmo Park
3428 Esplanade
What we love about DeGarmo:
DeGarmo Park has a lot going on! Even on a beautiful Chico day, there's plenty of parking, room to run, and space to play. Our kids in particular really enjoy climbing and swinging, so DeGarmo is a great spot to take them to burn off some extra energy.
Amenities at DeGarmo:
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Chapman Park
775 E 16th Street
Next to the Dorothy F. Johnson Center
What we love about Chapman Park:
We love the water play! The new Chapman Park opened in December of 2023. Its playground, splash pad, and covered picnic areas are all brand new! The splash pad features a big bear with steps for climbing, salmon and basalt features, and an acorn dump bucket.
Amenities at Chapman Park:
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Hooker Oak Park
1928 Manzanita Avenue
What we love about Hooker Oak:
As part of Upper Bidwell Park, Hooker Oak feels the most like Chico to me. I can take all three kids to either playground (there is one at each end of the parking lot) and they'll have a blast. We prefer the back playground because it has the bathrooms nearby and more play options for toddlers.
Amenities at Hooker Oak:
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Oak Way Park
1510 West 8th Avenue
What we love about Oak Way Park:
The layout at Oak Way Park feels intuitive - everything is where you need it, without really thinking about it. Very peaceful and shady. I enjoy sitting on one of the benches facing the main playground and chatting with other parents while the kids play. The toddler playground is fenced and more separated from the big kid playground than most parks in Chico.
Amenities at Oak Way Park:
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Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Avenue
What we love about Wildwood:
Wildwood Park has a really great layout for bringing kids with a big age range, like ours. The sight lines are great and the large xylophone is a family favorite that makes up for the lack of swings. Wildwood has a super fun pump track for kids so don't forget the bikes.
Tip: It's worth the effort to keep toddlers on the smaller play structure. The big one is REALLY big and has quite a few options for getting stuck just out of mom or dad's reach.
Amenities at Wildwood:
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Some things to note about Chico's parks:
Chico Area Recreation and Park District (CARD) manages most, but not all, of them.
The City of Chico manages Caper Acres in Bidwell Park and Children's Park downtown.
Most of the CARD parks you find in neighborhoods do not have bathrooms, so plan accordingly!
Chico's parks are not all created equally. Some examples:
Wildwood has fun play structures for all ages, but no swings.
Peterson Park and Centennial Rotary Park both have a variety of fun swing options, but no restrooms.
DeGarmo has fun play structures for ages 5+, 3 swing styles, and bathrooms, but not a lot of shade!
Caper Acres has it all, plus tons of character, but terrible sight lines. It is not ideal for parents of kids who like to run off, or for bringing multiple kids who want to do different things.
Plus (but not a plus) they're closed on Mondays. Still, it's a great option for birthday parties - you can rent the space for FREE!
It worked for us to bring an air horn for when it was time to sing and cut the cake.
Since each playground has its own pros and cons, the one you love most for your family could likely be different from mine. They are all great in their own way!
I hope this list of our favorite playgrounds and parks in Chico helps you find -- or rediscover! -- some fun places for your family to explore. Now get those kids out to play!
