For the Kiddos - Monterrey Park

Lots of Space

My kids love going to the park and we try to get out and explore as many as we can when the weather allows. One of the parks we visit is Monterrey Park which is located at 7045 E. Monterrey Avenue in Mesa. This park does not offer as many thrills or frills as some of the other parks close by, but it's one that has plenty of space for our kids to run around in and get their wiggles out. Boys need a lot of space, you know? This park, like many others throughout the East Valley, is open from sunrise to 10:00 pm. Here are some of the amenities it offers:

• First-come, first-serve shaded picnic ramadas
• Playground- surface is mostly sand with some small sections of rubber
• Lighted Basketball Court
• Lighted Hard Surface Volleyball Court
• Picnic Tables (some covered, some in the open)
• Barbecues
• Multi-Use Sports Fields
• Horseshoe Court
• Fenced dog area
• 21 acres
• Concrete track

The Playground at Monterrey Park in Mesa 

Early Bird Gets the Worm!

Unlike many of the other parks nearby you cannot reserve one of the two shaded ramadas with picnic tables. So... if you want to use one of the ramadas for any occasion make sure you plan ahead and get there early, or send someone to stake your claim before your event. We had a birthday for one of my sons here and we made sure to send a family member to reserve the one we wanted. Besides the games we had planned, the kids played basketball, football, in the playground, rode their bikes and scooters, and we even used one of the trees near the ramada for a piñata. The one huge drawback... There are NO BATHOOMS! The first time I realized this I was amazed. I mean, who designs a park without bathrooms? They are supposed to be for kids right, and there are times where mine have to go A LOT! So, when we plan an outing to this park we make sure the kids empty their bladder beforehand. Oh, and we have a special tree we use, if we have a bathroom emergency. But SHHHHH! Don't tell anyone! Don't judge... we are not the only ones who do this.

Ramada with Picnic Tables

During the week you will find this park bustling with activity from kids enjoying the playground, and several teams practicing various sports. On the weekends, you will see family gatherings and parties in the ramadas, or groups of people clustered together under tents and tarps they have erected for their event. Also on the weekends, at various times throughout the year, you will see organized sporting events taking place.

The Concrete Track

Like I said before, this is your basic park, but we frequent it quite a bit. As my kids have grown we have transitioned from spending most of our time at the playground to the basketball court, the volleyball court, or the concrete track. While my kids ride their bikes or scooters around the track my husband and I either ride our bikes with them or walk to get some excercise. It's not a big place but it's great for getting out of the house and getting the blood flowing. If you find yourself there in the late afternoon, you just might be lucky enough to catch one of the colorful sunsets.