Central Park Community Center
4.5(139)4.5 out of 5 stars, 139 reviews Salt Lake City, UT
About Central Park Community Center
Central Park Community Center offers a wide array of outdoor sports facilities and structured programs for various age groups, supported by caring and friendly staff. It serves as a valuable community hub with offerings like the PAL boxing program and soccer leagues, alongside open access to playgrounds and courts.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking diverse outdoor sports activities for children and teens.Children interested in structured sports programs such as boxing (PAL program) or soccer.Parents looking for a park with extended (all-night) access to playgrounds and sports courts.Those who prioritize friendly and well-organized administrative support for youth programs.Toddlers: Playgrounds are available, but parents should note the bark flooring (Review 4).
Why families love it
- Exceptional and caring staff (e.g., 'Matt and his staff are exceptional people and truly care for the kids').
- Wonderful PAL boxing program specifically highlighted as beneficial.
- Well-run administration for sports programs ('people who usually run the place were on point').
- Staff are super friendly to kids and responsive to questions.
- Extensive outdoor sports facilities including basketball courts, tennis courts, and a baseball field.
- Two playgrounds available for children.
Insider tips
- If bringing young children, be mindful that explicit music may occasionally be played near the basketball courts despite a 'no music' rule.
- Parents enrolling children in sports programs like soccer might consider inquiring about specific coaches due to reported inconsistencies in coaching quality.
- For toddlers, be aware that playground flooring is bark, not padded, so appropriate footwear or extra caution may be needed.
- General center operating hours are Mon-Thur 8 AM - 2:45 PM and Tues/Thurs 4 PM - 6 PM.
- The center is scheduled to reopen on Jan 13, 2025.
Good to know before you go
- If cleanliness and a litter-free environment are high priorities, as trash is reportedly littered all over.
- If exposure to potentially explicit music for young children is a strong concern, particularly around the basketball courts.
- If padded playground flooring is essential for your toddler's safety and comfort.
- If consistent high-quality coaching in sports programs is a non-negotiable requirement.
- Explicit music is sometimes played at the basketball court, despite a 'no music' rule, potentially exposing young children to inappropriate content ('drugs and such').
- Value
- No specific pricing information is provided in the reviews. The value appears to come from the availability of free general park facilities and potentially affordable or community-supported structured sports programs (like PAL boxing).
- Food
- A food bank service operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for those needing help. No specific policy regarding outside food or drinks for general visitors is mentioned.
- Accessibility
- No specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., wheelchair ramps, sensory-friendly hours) are mentioned in the reviews.
- Safety
- A 'no music' rule is posted, though its enforcement against explicit content is inconsistent.
What parents say
"They have a food bank Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday for those that need help it's a great place open from mon to Thur 8 to 245 Tues Thurs 4 to 6 8 reopen on Jan 13 2025"
4 months ago
"It’s a great little park! Sometimes people are playing explicit music at the basketball court and you have little kids running around listening to drugs and such. Doesn’t bother me but if I were a parent I would be upset as it does say no music."
2 years ago
"Matt and his staff are exceptional people and truly care for the kids. The PAL boxing program is wonderful and I'm very thankful for it due to our son's involvement with that program. If you don't already, please support this center and respect the greatness of it."
6 years ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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