dog friendly park

Carl Thornton Park

Overview: Carl Thornton Park is rated 4.4/5 from 832 Google reviews. Reviews most often describe it as clean and well kept and spacious with room for dogs to run. Amenities: Reviewers often mention shade and tree cover and poop bags, seating, and other park extras. Crowd: Reviews describe a friendly crowd of owners and dogs. Downsides: Some reviews mention inconsistent cleanliness.

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4.4Google rating

832reviews

6photos

Overview

What stands out here

Open now

4.4(832 reviews)

Best for

dogs that need room to runowners who want shade, seating, and water accesslonger visits with useful park amenities

Quick facts

Address1801 W Segerstrom Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704, USA

Phone(714) 571-4200

City pageSanta Ana

Imported fromSanta Ana, CA

Visit park site Jump to map

Useful details

These tags come from the imported Google export and help visitors scan the park vibe quickly.

dogs that need room to runowners who want shade, seating, and water accesslonger visits with useful park amenitiesparktourist attraction6 Google photos832 reviewsOpen now

Park photos

Real photo coverage helps visitors judge size, atmosphere, and maintenance before they head out.

Recent Google review highlights

Showing the actual texture of owner feedback makes the park page much more useful than a bare directory card.

Elizabeth Kane5 months ago

Carl Thornton Park in Santa Ana is absolutely beautiful and family-friendly — the perfect place to celebrate a child’s birthday. I hosted my daughter’s party here, and everything went so smoothly. There’s plenty of open space for games and decorations, and the scenery with the lake in the background made for such a peaceful and pretty setting. We set up near the playground, which kept the children entertained for hours. The play areas are clean, safe, and well-maintained, and there’s a great mix of equipment for different ages. There’s also lots of shaded picnic tables, restrooms close by, and plenty of parking, which made it super convenient for guests. What I loved most was how relaxed and happy everyone felt — the park has this calm, natural vibe that makes any gathering feel special. Between the lake views, the walking trails, and the open grassy areas, it felt like the perfect blend of fun and nature. I’d definitely recommend Carl Thornton Park for family gatherings, birthday parties, or even just a sunny afternoon picnic. It’s a beautiful spot that really brings people together.

Tiana G3 years ago

This is a decently sized park with plenty of parking. There are 2 parts of the park with 2 playgrounds for the kids. There is a basketball court and a new fitness area. A huge lake with lots of ducks, geese, and sometimes rare, unique birds show up. Also turtles will appear every now and then, sunbathing on top of rocks or peaking their heads atop the water lol. I love the sunsets here!

Shanny Slay4 months ago

Absolutely Beautiful and Serene!!! Seeing all the different birds enjoying each other’s company was so nice for my kids and I. The park is so well kept. Love it!

Glo OC3 years ago

Love walking in this park but after the rain it was super muddy, and areas on track and in grass areas are flooded...playground is completely flooded. I would wait until it dries before coming out or if you want to walk around wear shoes you don't care to get muddy and dirty.

Luvy Lawrence2 years ago

Super fun movie at the park. Thank you to the City of Santa Ana Parks and Rec for hosting! The Sandlot was the cutest movie, perfect for a summer park showing!

Opening hours

When Google exported structured hours, they’re surfaced here instead of being buried in the raw payload.

Monday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Google map

Embedded map view for quick orientation before visitors head out.

Keep exploring

Helpful links to compare this park with the wider area and plan your next outing.