Vincent Lugo Park

I went to Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel, CA on 11÷3÷2015. I’ve been there many times before. My mom used to take me there often when I was kid. Inside Vincent Lugo Park is a hidden treasure called La Laguna de San Gabriel. Artist Benjamin Dominguez created many fanciful play structures in the 1960’s. A treat for kids of all ages. Plus, I took photos.

I remember the great times I had at this park from the mid to late 1960s. My dad would take me and my cousin to the playground any time we came to visit them in Alhambra. It was a brand new park in the 60s, and the images I’ve seen lately seem to indicate that the city has done a great job of fixing it back up.

I had a few hours to kill while in SGV and decided to read/​people-​watch at Vincent Lugo Park. This afternoon, I saw countless families taking their babies or dogs for a stroll, a girl scout troop playing tag around the octopus and guys slacklining closer to where soccer/​baseball practices are held. This place brings up so many fond memories for me– many birthday parties, family bbqs and picnics have been held at this particular park. I’m so glad that it’s well-​maintained (I haven’t visited in maybe more than a decade) and clean :)

It’s a good park and it’s calm. The slides could use some touch ups. And maybe some toddler activities might be nice. Besides that it was a pretty cool park!

Honestly, the sole reason why we visited this park was to check out the playground. It just looked unique and fun. It is unique although I’d caution against bringing super young children. I’m small enough to fit on all the slides and I wasn’t a fan of how fast they shoot you out. Some structures are also very narrow and/​or have uneven footing.
Perhaps I’m just an overly paranoid, first time mom; I could just see my toddler hurting herself easily on the structures. I’d definitely love to bring her when she’s 5+ years old though. and insist that she wear a helmet. Just kidding. Mostly.
I bet the uniqueness would add an extra dimension of fun to imaginative play. Shoot, I’d even love scrambling around on everything as a teenager. There aren’t any swings, etc. The play aspect of the cement structures is that they’re slides.

After the renovation, it has become a very popular park, with Asian yoga and qi sessions in the mornings, and picnics and parties during the weekend. This is a great park for a leisurely stroll with your dog. I am waiting for them to create a section for a dog park since there’s quite a few dog owners that go here. It’s also a good spot to take some nice portraits during sunset so I wouldn’t be surprised if this will be the go to spot for engagement shoots when they add cool looking plants, trees and decorations. This past fall, the city had their first farmers market at this park, which I thought was a success. Can’t wait to see how it will be the following years. One thing I’d like to see from the city is to grow some beautiful plants or vines to cover the fence that’s next to the wash. I think it will make the park look cleaner and livelier with the view of the wash partially blocked away from walkers and runners.

They really revamped this place from my childhood. I remember it being a dodgy area when I was a kid. You would have drug trades near the dinosaur Park, people doing the nasties on the back road, hobos hanging out near the rocket. Every since they fixed up the place by adding lights and opening up the park, it’s a lot more comfortable. Went with my family to their farmers market and summer concert and it was NICE! Cozy and small, but that gives you a chance to really enjoy and get to know the vendors and locals. If you haven’t been back, give it a go.

Love this park! It’s clean, dog-​friendly, and spacious. The park can be a bit creepy if you are walking by yourself at night (lots of trees/​plants around), but a good thing is that the walking path is nicely lit. The scenery is great. There are very unique slides for children that are also enjoyable for adults.
I initially went to Almansor Park to walk my dog, but I was very surprised to find out that they didn’t allow dogs there. However, I was both extremely satisfied to have discovered this beautiful park that does welcome dogs! Like another reviewer said: Best park ever!!!

Vincent Lugo Park is much more updated than when I was a kid playing here. Not only is the new Dinosaur park repainted, the front face of the open park has a trail for daily walkers/​runners.
But my new found fave for this park is the new weekly Thursday farmer’s market at the parking lot. Though it may not be the biggest, it’s a nice start for San Gabriel to become more involved as a community. I do hope they will expand in the near future!

I LOVE this park and would come here as a child for many birthday parties. I remember the space ship slide, swings, and dinosaur park in the back! Ohhh and the little pool for babies! As well as a separate playground for toddlers.
I came here today to visit the park after many years. They REMODELED the park but left the dino park, yay! The park now has nice wooden bridges, dirt trails, many plants, and an open grass area. Its nice here and very peaceful. Dog friendly park as well. (:

Brought our 7 year old twins here. They enjoyed the structures and slides. The park is well kept and pretty. The crowd? Sort of scuzzy. There was a kids birthday party right by the playground and all you hear is explicitly obscene (use your most vivid imagination here) and vulgar rap music busting the speakers out of a boom box, another guy blatantly smoking a joint without regard to other people while his little boy was playing. A woman with her huge dog off leash who just watched her dog pee on the snail slide. Just low class behavior. Sadly we won’t be returning.

A nice park. I remember coming here as a kid and it looked wayyyyy different! Now that I’m back here and I took a stroll around the track, it looks so much nicer and cleaner. There’s a lighthouse in the playground that has lots of privacy. The park looks really clean and a beautiful bridge, but no water.

This is a nice big green grassy space.
Perfect for a picnic or a game of pick-​up soccer or a tai chi lesson. Its also a little bit of a history lesson! There are explanations of the local flora and fauna and how it was used by the native tribe that once lived here.
The Monster Lagoon is cute and was restored awhile ago. But, some of the sculptures have been out of commission for a long time. There is also a dirt path for running, that trails all through out the park.

I can’t believe this place doesn’t get 5 stars. I took my kids to the Monster Park for the first time today and it was AWESOME! The cement climbing structures reminded me of playgrounds when I was a kid, before all the climbing structures were the same. Of course these sea monsters were way cooler than anything I’d seen. The climbing and sliding was a bit difficult for my young ones (18mo and nearly 4) so I had to join in. Just a little exercise for me. :-) We brought our sand toys and had a snack in the shade. I look forward to visiting again and again.

Very nice park that’s kept nice and clean. This park is famous for its cement creatures that are in the children’s play area.

This is the best park ever. Ok, maybe not… but it is up there. Your kids will love it and it has a great non-​manufactured charm to it. Also has lots of shade.
Take your kids here and while your over there eat at Saigon Flavor.

What are they doing with this place! Seeming to want to try and catch up with the other parks, Vincent Lugo Park recently renovated. What was once an already nice park with the popular spaceship slide, this updated park seemed to have tried too hard. Although it is still nice, with numerous playground pieces for kids, the walking path is questionable. It is hard to believe that someone would think of using a sand path for walking/​jogging/​running as opposed to the conventional soft/​hard top thing? found at parks like Almansor. It is unpleasant accidentally kicking dirt as you walk.
I think they did do a good job though of opening up the park, making more use of the grounds, mainly with the playgrounds. It would have been nicer having a larger field (a group was playing soccer in a very confined space). I guess the basics are still here however. It is a simple park with the simple things. Do not expect a big park where you can do so many extracurricular activities because you probably would not be able to here.

I had never visited this park before the renovations, but after the park re-​opened, we took our 1.5 year old there. The park is home to La Laguna de San Gabriel– a sculptural playground of oversized whimsical cement sea creatures created by artist Benjamin Dominguez in the mid 1960’s. Although we did walk through a fairly large grassy area where a group was playing volleyball, I can’t really speak for the rest of the park since the sculptural playground was the only section we visited. It was pretty cool. I do have 2 complaints about this park:
1) The structures are so old, it does take some effort on your part to slide down the slides. I’m sure it’s because it’s considered art, but it’s too bad that when they were doing renovations to the rest of the park that they couldn’t refresh the paint on the structures or at least put some sort of varnish or something on the slides so that it’s easier to slide down.
2) The graffiti on the structures was a bit sad to see.
My husband went down the slides with our baby, and he seemed to enjoy them. However, this park would be much more enjoyable for older children who can climb up and slide down on their own.
Pros:
1) The sculture climbing structures are cool
2) Large grass area where a group had a volley ball game going and still plenty of room for other group sports.
3) Recently renovated so it looks new and clean.
Cons:
1) More for older children who can climb the structures on their own and enjoy it more.
2) Slides take a little bit of work to slide down.
3) Graffiti on the structures.

Okay, I have to use vulgarities. If you have delicate ears, cover them.
WHAT THE FUCK DID THEY DO TO THE PARK? !!!
I drove by this past Saturday, and the entire west end was gutted. Gone was the perfectly FUCKING FINE kiddie land with its cute little fence, and the silver twisty slide with the red and white carnival canopy. No more ride on duckies. Gone was the pool. The cute shelters and fiberglass picnic tables were nowhere to be found. The old snack bar is done. I’ll admit, it made me cry. How FUCKING could you, City of San Gabriel!!! How fucking could you scumbags do it.
I bet its being replaced with plastic stuff. I noticed a track was being put in. People can’t just walk a dirt path. I’m very tired of most of the general population not finding the value in things from the past. The playground was fine. You just can’t have a little innocent park for kids to play. It has to be covered in brands or Kim Kardashian’s ass or say «Cheesecake Factory» so people will care, right? If they gave a shit, they’d renovate those stupid wooden shelters on the other side of the park that people keep hanging themselves from.
I am damn glad that I took my kid and my nieces and nephews to enjoy the park I treasured so much as a kid before these people razed it to the ground. Yeah, I’m not happy. Not happy one bit. This is bullshit.
And to think, they tried pulling this shit with the DINOSAURS on the other side of the park.
PS. I still think its bullshit that they cut down that tree the sea serpent was wrapped around.

(:
What I lovee about this park is it’s own little secret that of course everyone already knows about. But if it’s your first time there it’s just an amazing find! From first glance it just looks like your average park with swing sets and monkey bars but if you continue into the park behind the baseball field you’ll find the dinosaur park! (:
during the summer they usual fill the kiddy pool that they have right in the front of the park too. It’s also a good place to hold bbqs, picnics and parties (: