Mile Square Park: Your Go-To Spot for a Fun-Filled Day Trip

Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley is a 640-acre urban oasis. Mile Square Park has three golf courses, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball & softball diamonds, an archery range, and a wilderness area. The park also features two lakes. The biggest lake at Edinger and Euclid Streets features seasonal paddleboat rentals.

This North Orange County park is a favorite among runners and casual bike riders, featuring a paved path that encircles the entire area, creating a pleasant loop. If you’re not up for a four-mile run, numerous trails through the park allow you to take a shorter route.

Mile Square Park Golf Courses

Golfers can choose from three regulation golf courses. The David L. Baker course is an 18-hole, par-62 mid-length course with six lakes. David L. Baker is night-lit and features a 30-stall driving range. Mile Square Park Golf Course features two 18-hole courses and a modern clubhouse. The driving range is open until 10 pm each evening and has 40 stalls.

Mile Square Park Nature Center

Located in the center of the park is a little-known feature, a 15-acre nature center. This area features Southern California plants, including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and grasslands. Several pathways wind their way in and around the nature area. Mile Square Park Nature Center is worth a look, but it still has a way to go before it rivals the Fullerton Arboretum. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Mile Square Park Fishing

Fishing is available at both lakes, and during the winter, the lakes are stocked with small trout, typically 1-3 lbs in size. There are also a few small bass and catfish in the lake. Fish here is best suited for kids learning how to fish. A fishing license is required for individuals 16 years of age and older. Each year at the beginning of March, the park holds a Free Kids’ Fishing Derby at North Lake.

Mile Square Archery Range

The Archery Range at Mile Square Park is first-class. The state-of-the-art range features 24 shooting stations under a canopy. Targets are set up for beginners, intermediate, and advanced archers. Use of the field is free, but you must bring your equipment. No air guns, axes, crossbows, firearms, or knives are allowed. The range is located near the park’s center and can be reached from Euclid Street—open from 7:00 am to Sunset.

Mile Square Park Statues

Mile Square Park features three prominent statues near Freedom Lake, each representing historical figures significant to different communities in Orange County. These statues were installed to honor heroes who fought for democracy, as articulated by former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, with costs covered by donors. The statues are of Ronald Reagan, General Trần Hưng Đạo, and Miguel Hidalgo.

Miguel Hidalgo Statue

Miguel Hidalgo was a Mexican priest who fought for independence from Spain. Miguel Hidalgo was executed for treason ten years before Mexico gained independence from Spain. The remains of Hidalgo lie in the column of the Angel of Independence in Mexico City. (1753 – 1811)

General Trần Hưng Đạo Statue

General Trần Hưng Đạo was a Vietnamese prince and military commander in the thirteenth century. He led armies that repelled three Mongol invasions, both on land and at sea. Trấn Hưng Đạo is a national hero of Vietnam. He died of natural causes at the age of 73. (1226 -1330)

Mile Square Park History

The park was once agricultural land planted with crops such as sugar beets, beans, barley, and wheat. In 1942, the Navy purchased the 640-acre plot and used a one-mile square area as an auxiliary landing field. The center of the Park remained in use by the Navy until 1974, when all operations ceased. The first 85-acre section of the park was opened to the public in 1970. Phase II opened in 1973, and Phase III in 1976.

Starship Troopers Movie Location

The Regional Park in Fountain Valley, California, was a key filming location for the 1997 science fiction film Starship Troopers, directed by Paul Verhoeven. The park was used to depict Camp Currie, the military boot camp where the protagonist, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien), and other recruits undergo rigorous training to fight the Arachnids. In 1999, what remained of the military airfield was excavated to make room for the third golf course. A final note, the third golf course was removed in 2024 and is now parkland again.

Mile Square Park Tet Festival

The festival celebrates Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, marking new beginnings and honoring cultural traditions. It typically features lion and dragon dances, live music, artistic performances, firecracker ceremonies, carnival rides, and authentic Vietnamese cuisine, such as phở, bánh mì, and spring rolls. The Vietnamese Cultural Center often highlights iconic Vietnamese landscapes. With its proximity to Little Saigon, the Mile Square Park Tet Festival draws hundreds of people from the Vietnamese community.

Mile Square Park BBQ Festival

Getting to Mile Square Park

During the morning hours, runners utilize the four-mile loop for their workouts. Later on, in the day, families arrive with picnic lunches and bicycles. The Pacific Ocean is just a few miles away, and a cool breeze is usually present, even on the hottest days.

The park can get crowded on holiday weekends, and it’s best to arrive early to secure a shady picnic area. Mile Square Regional Park is located at 16801 Euclid, Fountain Valley, California.

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