If you’re raising the next Cristiano Ronaldo or Serena Williams, you may be looking for a place for them to burn off their energy. Below, you can explore some of the best spots in Peoria, AZ for your children to play sports.
Rio Vista Community Park
Image via Flickr by wrightbrosfan Licensed CC BY 2.0
Rio Vista Community Park expands across 52 acres, which makes it the perfect spot for your children to explore any sport that piques their interest. The park is open every day from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., meaning you can bring your kids for some morning fun before school or let them run around after a long, busy day. Some of the park’s most notable amenities include seven lighted softball fields, which are perfect for organized ball games or a laid-back kickball tournament.
Children can also run freely on any of the park’s several lighted sand volleyball courts or multi-purpose fields where they can play round after round of games like volleyball, badminton, soccer, or touch football. As the parent on duty, you can kick back and keep an eye on them comfortably. Rio Vista Community Park also features large group and single ramadas where you can rest in the shade and converse with other parents.
Pioneer Community Park
Pioneer Community Park is the perfect spot for your energetic toddler, active kindergartner, or spirited preteen who can’t sit still. The park has six lighted ball fields so your child can play softball, baseball, or kickball even if the sun has already set for the day. There are also four lighted, multi-purpose fields. These spots are great for holding casual games of flag football, soccer, and field hockey. If your child wants to work on their cheerleading skills, there’s plenty of space for them to practice their cartwheels, handstands, and round-offs on soft, cushioning grass.
If your child is a calmer enthusiast of sports, you can take them to Pioneer Community Park so that they can try their hand at fishing. The park is home to the massive five-acre Urban Lake that contains species like trout and grass carp.
Children who are 10 years old or older need to have a fishing license, but you can easily purchase one online through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website. Your little fisher can catch and keep a certain number of fish per day, depending on their licensing status and the species of fish they catch. If your child is younger than 10 years old, they can fish for free without a license.
Paloma Community Park
Paloma Community Park is one of Peoria’s newer parks, as it opened to the public in October 2020. Like Pioneer Community Park, it has a fishing lake where children and their parents can visit to catch fish like rainbow trout, sunfish, large bass, and channel catfish. The park’s lighted ball complex can also help your kids perfect their pitches and practice their swings. Children can also get some sprints in or take part in pickup flag football or soccer games at the park’s multiple lighted fields.
One of this park’s most unique elements is its open turf field. As a parent, you can rest assured when your child is using this turf field. Its composition offers extra cushion and it doesn’t have the dirt patches that grass fields have, so there’s often a decreased risk of injuries. The turf field is also available to use right after it rains, as there’s no concern of damaging the material.
Paloma Community Park’s employees and volunteers clean the turf regularly to keep it free of leaves and other debris, which prevents slipping hazards. This field also doesn’t require the use of pesticides to keep it fresh and ready for use, so you don’t have to worry about your child having a bad reaction as they’re rolling around on it.
Paloma Community Park also has four lighted pickleball courts if you want to introduce your child to the fast-growing sport. Pickleball is a great way for your kids to stay active and improve their agility and balance. They can also use these courts to play with and spend time with their grandparents, who may not be able to keep up with them in other sports that are more physically demanding.
Sunrise Pool
If your kid loves to swim or just splash around, consider taking them to the Sunrise Pool on North 86th Drive. This swimming pool is right next to the Sunrise Mountain High School campus, so you can stop here with the whole family after you pick up your older kids from school. Sunrise Pool offers both open swimming and lap swimming, so your children can participate in more relaxed and organized swimming depending on their preferences. There’s also a diving board, which can help your children expand their diving confidence and practice different diving positions.
You can pay for admission to Sunrise Pool as you go, as the price is never more than several dollars per visit. If your child is an avid swimmer, you may consider purchasing the individual pass to save money on all the trips you plan to make during the pool’s open season. There are also family passes if you want to invite the whole family.
American Sports Centers in Avondale
The American Sports Centers in Avondale is just 20 minutes outside of Peoria. It has a 4,000-square-foot multipurpose room, two indoor soccer fields, four basketball courts, and six volleyball courts. This organization hosts many clinics and leagues for young children throughout the year. No matter what your schedule is, you’re sure to find a league for your child to join.
Keeping your kids active is an important part of their healthy development, and taking them to these parks is an excellent way for you to fuel their need for movement. Did we miss one of your favorite spots for kids’ sports in Peoria, AZ? Reach out today to let us know, and we’ll be sure to check it out and add it to our list.