City park · La Costa Greens

Alga Norte Community Park

6565 Alicante Road, Carlsbad, CA 92009 Verified Checked September 2026

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A 32-acre community park at Alicante Road and Poinsettia Lane, with a universally accessible shaded playground, three lighted ball fields, basketball courts, a dog park, what the City calls San Diego County's largest skate park and 16 reservable picnic areas and lawns for 20 to 85 guests, next to the Alga Norte Aquatic Center. Covered picnic areas rent for $36-$58 an hour with a 2-hour minimum; the picnic areas at Playground 1, 3 and 5 and the Overlook have room for a bounce house.

Published prices

Fee	Price
Covered picnic area, 3-4 tables - Picnic Area: Basketball Area, Picnic Area: Playground 1, Picnic Area: Ball Field 1Parks & Recreation fee schedule (Sept 4, 2026) p.2 Individual rate, per hour with a 2-hour minimum; rental time must include setup and cleanup. Max guests: Picnic Area: Basketball Area 40, Picnic Area: Playground 1 40, Picnic Area: Ball Field 1 40. CarlsbadConnect currently charges $40/hr for Picnic Area: Playground 1; the fee-schedule price is shown.	$42 / hr (2-hr min)
Covered picnic area, 3-4 tables - Picnic Area: Basketball Area, Picnic Area: Playground 1, Picnic Area: Ball Field 1 - Carlsbad residentcomputed: Individual rate less the fee schedule's 10% resident discount (the City does not print resident prices or define 'resident')	$37.80 / hr (2-hr min)
Covered picnic area, 7-8 tables - Picnic Area: OverlookParks & Recreation fee schedule (Sept 4, 2026) p.2 Individual rate, per hour with a 2-hour minimum; rental time must include setup and cleanup. Max guests: Picnic Area: Overlook 80.	$58 / hr (2-hr min)
Covered picnic area, 7-8 tables - Picnic Area: Overlook - Carlsbad residentcomputed: Individual rate less the fee schedule's 10% resident discount (the City does not print resident prices or define 'resident')	$52.20 / hr (2-hr min)
Covered picnic area, 1-2 tables - Picnic Area: Playground 2, Picnic Area: Playground 3, Picnic Area: Playground 4, Picnic Area: Playground 5, Picnic Area: Ball Field 2, Picnic Area: Ball Field 3, Picnic Area: Ball Field 4, Picnic Area: Ball Field 5, Picnic Area: Ball Field 6Parks & Recreation fee schedule (Sept 4, 2026) p.2 Individual rate, per hour with a 2-hour minimum; rental time must include setup and cleanup. Max guests: Picnic Area: Playground 2 40, Picnic Area: Playground 3 35, Picnic Area: Playground 4 35, Picnic Area: Playground 5 35, Picnic Area: Ball Field 2 20, Picnic Area: Ball Field 3 20, Picnic Area: Ball Field 4 25, Picnic Area: Ball Field 5 25, Picnic Area: Ball Field 6 25.	$36 / hr (2-hr min)
Covered picnic area, 1-2 tables - Picnic Area: Playground 2, Picnic Area: Playground 3, Picnic Area: Playground 4, Picnic Area: Playground 5, Picnic Area: Ball Field 2, Picnic Area: Ball Field 3, Picnic Area: Ball Field 4, Picnic Area: Ball Field 5, Picnic Area: Ball Field 6 - Carlsbad residentcomputed: Individual rate less the fee schedule's 10% resident discount (the City does not print resident prices or define 'resident')	$32.40 / hr (2-hr min)
Open space (lawn) - Open Space 1, Open Space 2, Open Space 3Parks & Recreation fee schedule (Sept 4, 2026) p.2 Individual rate, per hour with a 2-hour minimum; rental time must include setup and cleanup. Max guests: Open Space 1 85, Open Space 2 50, Open Space 3 50.	$38 / hr (2-hr min)
Open space (lawn) - Open Space 1, Open Space 2, Open Space 3 - Carlsbad residentcomputed: Individual rate less the fee schedule's 10% resident discount (the City does not print resident prices or define 'resident')	$34.20 / hr (2-hr min)
Basketball full court (Alga Norte)Fee schedule p.2 'Basketball Court (full court at Alga Norte)' Individual rate; CarlsbadConnect charges $36/half hour. Nonprofit $54, commercial $108.	$72 / hr (2-hr min)
Basketball full court (Alga Norte) - Carlsbad residentcomputed: Individual rate less the fee schedule's 10% resident discount	$64.80 / hr (2-hr min)
Inflatable party jump fee (per inflatable, City-approved vendor only)Fee schedule p.4 'Inflatable Party Jump (excludes ANAC)'. Inflatable must come from a City-approved vendor (list valid as of 9/28/26), be no larger than 15x15 ft, have no water features; the generator must be rented from the approved vendor.	$20 / inflatable
Insurance processing fee (only when the City requires liability insurance)Fee schedule p.4: 'Insurance Processing' $50 per rental, or $35 with City-offered insurance ('Insurance Processing (city offered)'). Insurance is required 'when applicable' with the amount set by the Risk Manager (Use Regulations p.1); the City does not publish when it applies to a birthday picnic. $2M liquor liability if alcohol is permitted (Council Policy 28 G.9).	$50 / rental
Rental modification fee (per change)Fee schedule p.4. Cancellations/changes more than 30 days ahead get full credit, 50% credit if less (fee schedule footnote); the 2025 Use Regulations refund policy instead gives a 50% refund or full credit at 30+ days and nothing under 30 days - the two City documents disagree. No deposit is published for ordinary rentals.	$10 / change

Bookable areas (17)

Picnic Area: Basketball Area - up to 40 guests (4 tables; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Overlook - up to 80 guests (8 tables; covered; grill available; bounce house: room for bounce house)
Picnic Area: Playground 1 - up to 40 guests (4 tables; covered; grill available; electrical outlet; bounce house: room for bounce house)
Picnic Area: Playground 2 - up to 40 guests (2 tables; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Playground 3 - up to 35 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: room for bounce house)
Picnic Area: Playground 4 - up to 35 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Playground 5 - up to 35 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: room for bounce house)
Picnic Area: Ball Field 1 - up to 40 guests (4 tables; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Ball Field 2 - up to 20 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Ball Field 3 - up to 20 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Ball Field 4 - up to 25 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Ball Field 5 - up to 25 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Picnic Area: Ball Field 6 - up to 25 guests (1 table; covered; grill available; bounce house: no room)
Open Space 1 - up to 85 guests (uncovered; bounce house: room not stated; the listing gives only the City's general inflatable rules)
Open Space 2 - up to 50 guests (uncovered; bounce house: room not stated; the listing gives only the City's general inflatable rules)
Open Space 3 - up to 50 guests (uncovered; bounce house: room not stated; the listing gives only the City's general inflatable rules)
Basketball Full Court - lighted outdoor full court (the park has one full and one half court, which CarlsbadConnect describes as 'Three half courts'), 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Alga Norte Aquatic Center (same address): pool party packages, Meeting Room (40) and Meeting Room Patio (50, marketed for birthday parties) are listed separately under the Aquatic Center

At a glance

Capacity: 85 guests
Setting: Outdoor
Hours: Park 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (City facility page); rentals 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday-Sunday (CarlsbadConnect)
Parking: Available
Run by: City of Carlsbad

Amenities

Restrooms
Playground
Picnic tables
BBQ grills
Sports fields
Beach access (no)
Dogs allowed (no)
Accessible (ADA)

Rules

Alcohol: Only as your approved permit allows: 'Alcohol consumption is limited to the terms of the approved permit' (Park & Facility Use Regulations Summary, 9/9/25, p.1). If security is required the City arranges it and the renter pays ($45/hr, fee schedule p.4). Only the responsible person or a licensed caterer may bring alcohol, no alcohol at any celebration for someone under 21 (such as a child's birthday party), and $2M liquor liability insurance is required (Council Policy 28, section G). This park is not one of the places where CMC 8.44.040 bans open containers outright.
Bounce houses: Allowed with your park permit: the inflatable must come from a City-approved vendor (list valid as of 9/28/26), be no larger than 15x15 ft and have no water features; $20 fee per inflatable; the generator must be rented from the approved vendor (Approved inflatable vendor list and rules; CMC 11.32.030(29)). Water slides, slip-and-slides, dunk tanks, merry-go-rounds and climbing walls are prohibited unless the City Manager permits them (Use Regulations p.1). The booking system says which areas have room for a bounce house: Overlook, Playground 1, Playground 3 and Playground 5 do; Basketball Area, Playground 2 and 4 and all Ball Field areas do not; the open-space lawns follow the inflatable rules. The fee schedule's $20 inflatable line 'excludes ANAC' (the Aquatic Center), and the pool-party pages do not say whether you may bring your own bounce house; the Aquatic Center's Meeting Room Patio listing says it has room for one.
Amplified sound: Renters must control any amplified sound, including radios, so it does not disturb other groups or the surrounding neighborhood; the event may be cancelled if noise is not controlled or police are called (Use Regulations p.1). No decibel limit, hours or sound permit is published.
Canopies: City code requires written City permission for any temporary structure in a park (CMC 11.32.030(12)), and the City doesn't say whether a small pop-up canopy at a picnic rental counts, so ask when booking. A Fire Department tent permit ($274 for a single tent, FY 2026-27 citywide fee schedule) is required above 400 sq ft with sidewalls or 700 sq ft canopy-only (Special Event Reference Book, rev. 8/12/26, p.37).
Other rules: Groups of 25 or more need an approved park and facility use permit (Use Regulations p.1; CMC 11.32.030(18)). Book on CarlsbadConnect 14 to 365 days ahead (the City recommends applying at least 30 days ahead); every rental is per hour with a 2-hour minimum, the time must include setup and cleanup, fees are due 30 days before the event, and the applicant must be on site with a copy of the permit. No glass containers (CMC 11.32.040), no smoking or vaping (CMC 11.32.110), no dogs except in dog parks (CMC 11.32.030(11),(23)), no balloon releases (CMC 6.26.030), no handing out single-use plastic beverage bottles of 1 liter or less at City facilities (CMC 6.22.040). Fires only in City-designated grills (CMC 11.32.030(2)); bringing your own grill is not addressed. No deposit is published for ordinary rentals. Bicycles and scooters are prohibited in the skate park. Dogs are allowed only inside the fenced dog park (Dog park rules linked from the City page). Picnic Area: Playground 1 is the only picnic area with an electrical outlet. Any vendor you hire for the rental (for example an entertainer, caterer or rental company) must show proof of general liability insurance and hold a valid City of Carlsbad business license (CarlsbadConnect rental rules).

All Carlsbad park party rules

How to book

Reserve an area on CarlsbadConnect, the City's booking system, 14 to 365 days ahead (the City recommends applying at least 30 days ahead), by emailing rentals@carlsbadca.gov, or in person; for help, call 442-339-2510. Requests stay tentative until staff approve them (usually within three business days) and you've paid in full; fees are due 30 days before the event, or right away if you book less than 30 days out.

Application and booking info Official website

Location

6565 Alicante Road, Carlsbad, CA 92009 · Pin from OpenStreetMap. Get directions

Nearby

Sources

We checked these pages in September 2026. Prices change; confirm with the venue before you book. Something out of date? Tell us.

Abbreviations: CMC: Carlsbad Municipal Code (City code) · ANAC: Alga Norte Aquatic Center · FY: fiscal year