Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale is the perfect combination of recreation and history. It boasts a modern playground with familiar and new activities, plus offers a step back in time to the early days of Phoenix through historical buildings. There’s even a rose garden to enjoy!
Sahuaro Ranch Park also offers a small dog park, sand volleyball courts, soccer fields, and and softball complex. If you’re visiting for the playground and historical buildings, we recommend parking at the south parking lot by the main soccer field.
There are three playgrounds at this park, including a set of two toddler swings and a set of regular swings. The climbing equipment on the updated playgrounds is fabulous! Our kids likened it to a mini ninja course. Even adults will love the balancing options and rope nets. We played here for a good two hours, including lunch.
However, everything is spread out and only the updated play portion is covered from the sun. This is not a negative, just an FYI to those parents with multiple age ranges of children. The sets of swings are the furthest apart. Also, the older playground is sand based, while the newer playgrounds are woodchips.
A few benches and picnic tables are around the playgrounds, but not many. The majority are more towards the southwest entrance, starting at the restrooms. And there are a lot of concrete picnic tables to choose from! None are in the shade. Up the hill from the playground, near the historical buildings, there are 9 large ramadas with grills, electric and communal sinks. There are restrooms here as well.
Keep reading for information about the historical Sahuaro Ranch portion of this wonderful park!
The historical portion of Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale is fantastic and not to be missed! It’s a 17 acre ranch from 1887, with partially reconstructed buildings like the main house and horse barn, and beautiful additions like an orchard and a rose garden. You are welcome to walk around outside and enjoy. Be on the look out for wandering peacocks as well! We spotted some on our first visit and they gave us quite a show.
There are signs posted to not climb the citrus trees, but no mention of not picking the fruit. So we took home some lovely grapefruits and oranges! As always leave fruit for the next visitor and don’t damage the trees in any way.
Nearby is a public library, with a little cactus garden along the north side. Plants may or may not be in bloom depending on the season, but it’s a well cared for area that is a delight to walk any time of the year.
For more history about the historic part of Sahuaro Ranch, click here. Tours are available on weekends September-July at various times. We definitely recommend taking a weekend visit to this park with the family soon!
Sahuaro Ranch Park
9802 N 59th Ave
Glendale, AZ 85302
(623) 930-2820
Looking for more park ideas? Check out this list of the 10 Best Parks in Phoenix!
