KiwanisLand Park
KiwanisLand Park was founded in 1967 when the Garden Grove Kiwanis Club chose to focus their efforts on one big project that would serve the community as a whole, but with a special emphasis on the local youngsters. KiwanisLand is a one-of-a-kind private park located on Larson Avenue, near to the Garden Grove Boys & Girls Club.
The Garden Grove Kiwanis Club was founded on October 29, 1951. It convened in numerous eateries for several years before our KiwanisLand park clubhouse was built.
The site was purchased through an agreement with the Boys Club (now the Boys & Girls Club) to split the land gift from the Hoag Foundation. KiwanisLand sought for non-profit company status, and the park quickly became a reality thanks to the professional planning firm Recreational Land Planners of Yorba Linda. The Kiwanis Club of Garden Grove, as well as other service groups, organizations, and people in the community, funded the renovation during a two-year period.
KiwanisLand Park is also the main focus of the Garden Grove Kiwanis Club’s fund-raising events. Their efforts have certainly been rewarded, as children of all ages travel to the park for picnics, overnight camping, or simply to frolic and play. The park has been made available to any organized youth and community groups over the years.
The site area was designed with a recreational camp idea in mind and features the following amenities:
- Individual overnight camping areas
- With lights and audio equipment, the campfire amphitheater can accommodate 300 people.
- A lake that is surrounded by waterfalls and connected by a swaying bridge.
- Large shaded family picnic spaces with tables, gas grills, and kitchen amenities.
- Complete boys’ and girls’ restrooms.
Since 1969, the Kiwanis Club of Garden Grove has maintained the grounds and buildings via our own work and donations, with the majority of our fund-raising events benefiting the KiwanisLand park. Our efforts have certainly been rewarded, as children of all ages travel to the park for picnics, overnight camping, or simply to frolic and play. Throughout the years, our park has been open to any organized youth group for free and has hosted an average of 12,000 visitors per year. Our park continues to receive our full attention and is our Major Emphasis project.
In recent years, a new feature of park maintenance has been added. Our steadfast and hardworking Kiwanis brother, the late Fred Dunn, was vital in arranging a leasing deal for our park for 22-25 days every year. This arrangement included additional cash for the installation of new playground equipment and a toddler play area. We have also expanded our restrooms to ensure full accessibility. In addition, we have given a home for a full-time caregiver.
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