Kids Rock and Play Area — Attraction in Irvine

A Disappointing Reality: Dogs in Children's Play Areas

It’s deeply disappointing—and frankly irresponsible—that some dog owners allow their pets to urinate and defecate in areas clearly designated for children. These spaces are meant to be safe havens for toddlers and young kids to explore, play, and grow. When dog waste is left behind, it introduces serious health risks that should never be ignored.

Health Hazards of Dog Waste Dog feces can carry harmful pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. These can cause gastrointestinal illness, skin infections, and even more severe complications in young children whose immune systems are still developing1.

Dog urine, on the other hand, can transmit Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can lead to kidney and liver damage. Prolonged exposure to pet urine odor can also irritate the respiratory system, causing coughing, throat irritation, and even lung infections1.

Why Dogs and Children’s Play Areas Don’t Mix Children play close to the ground, often with their hands and toys touching surfaces that may be contaminated. They’re also prone to putting their hands in their mouths, making the risk of infection even higher. A play area should be a clean, secure environment—not a shared toilet for pets.

Allowing dogs to relieve themselves in these spaces is not just inconsiderate—it’s a public health issue. Even in private yards, the CDC recommends cleaning up dog poop immediately, especially in areas where children play2.

A Call for Responsibility Dog ownership comes with responsibilities, and one of the most basic is cleaning up after your pet. If you don’t have children, it might be easy to overlook the risks—but that doesn’t make it acceptable. Respect shared spaces. Respect the health and safety of our community’s...

This playground is fairly new and has fun and fast slides for the kids not to mention that you can crawl through winding tunnels that the kids love. There was also a zipline that had a bit of a wait but it is so long and there was even a kid helping kids get on the zipline which...

Parking lot 3 will get you close enough. Great for the extra little ones. A few slides a small tunnel and a wide balance beam. Little shade though so it’s not the best...