A bicyclist cruises in front of a new overlook of the Santiago Creek at Santiago Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, December 14, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Santiago Park, a roughly 34.5-acre community park and one of Santa Ana’s larger green spaces, will move into a third phase of planned improvements this coming year.
The park runs alongside Santiago Creek, stretching from Main Street toward the 22 Freeway, with recreational amenities including picnic areas, playgrounds and tennis and basketball courts, as well as an archery range, a lawn bowling green and an interpretive wildlife center.
Five-year-old Margo Franco enjoys the newly updated section of Santiago Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Phase two of the park’s improvements was made possible by $2.8 million in funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors are welcomed to Santiago Park in Santa Ana with a new sign at the Main Street entrance on Sunday, December 14, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A wooden bridge at Santiago Park, with a view of the Santiago Creek, is part of the ongoing improvements and renovations made possible by $2.8 million in funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ethan Doyer strolls with his nieces Aurora Lopez, 10, and Iya Barrera, 4, at Santiago Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, December 14, 2025. They are in the Gashouse Area of the park, so named for the historic cabin, left, that can now be rented out for events. The park has undergone major renovations and improvements over the last couple of years.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A bicyclist cruises in front of a new overlook of the Santiago Creek at Santiago Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, December 14, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Drought-tolerant California poppies add pops of color to phase two of Santiago Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Improvements include a pedestrian and bike path that connects to the Santiago Creek Trail.
(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Five-year-old Margo Franco enjoys the newly updated section of Santiago Park in Santa Ana on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Phase two of the park’s improvements was made possible by $2.8 million in funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
City officials in Santa Ana marked the completion of Santiago Park’s second phase of improvements earlier this month. They were funded by the California Coast Conservancy at a cost of $2.8 million.
New upgrades include improved picnic areas, Santiago Creek overlooks, lighting and updated landscaping and irrigation. The work also includes a new monument at the park’s Main Street entrance, along with new pedestrian and bike paths that connect to the Santiago Creek Bike Trail.
The improvements are part of a broader effort to refresh aging infrastructure, improve access and safety, and better connect the park to the creek and regional trail network.
Improvements in the park’s third phase are expected to begin in 2026 and will cover the portion of the park east of the Lawn Bowling Center to the 22 Freeway.
