Al Guhin Park

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Parks

California

Nearby: Blast Soccer Park Little League Western Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Al Guhin Park is located in the city of Santa Clara, California.

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Summary

The park spans over 52 acres and offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors of all ages. The park features a large playground area, picnic tables, walking trails, and a lake for fishing and boating.

One of the main attractions of the park is the Japanese Friendship Garden, which was built as a symbol of friendship between Santa Clara and its sister city, Izumo, Japan. The garden features a koi pond, waterfall, and traditional Japanese landscaping.

Another popular feature of the park is the Santa Clara Youth Soccer Park, which includes a total of 11 soccer fields for both recreational and competitive play. The park also has tennis courts, basketball courts, and a sand volleyball court.

Visitors can also enjoy scenic views of the Guadalupe River from the park's many walking trails. The river runs through the park and provides a peaceful backdrop for picnics and outdoor activities.

Interesting facts about Al Guhin Park include its original name, Civic Center Park, which was changed in 2012 to honor Al Guhin, a former city council member who was instrumental in the park's development. Additionally, the park was home to the former Santa Clara City Hall building, which was demolished in 2011 to make way for the soccer fields.

The best time of year to visit Al Guhin Park is during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers something for visitors in all seasons.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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