City park · Buena Vista Lagoon
Hosp Grove Park
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A 5.5-acre park (per the City's park page; the City's Master Plan inventory and 2024 park land study list about 27.1 acres) at Jefferson Street and Marron Road across from Buena Vista Lagoon, with a sand-lot play area, picnic tables, a small parking lot and the west trailhead for the 3-mile Hosp Grove eucalyptus trails. The City's park page says it is not available for rentals, yet CarlsbadConnect lists two 25-person picnic areas at $24 an hour, so confirm with the City (442-339-2510) before planning a party here. Only a portable restroom is listed in the City's 2023 inventory.
Published prices
| Fee | Price |
|---|---|
| Uncovered picnic area, 3 or fewer tables - Picnic Area 1, Picnic Area 2Parks & 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 1 25, Picnic Area 2 25. RESERVATION STATUS UNCLEAR: the City facility page says the park is not available for rentals; CarlsbadConnect lists these areas at $12/half hour and accepts requests. Confirm with 442-339-2510. The City does not describe these areas' tables or cover; this fee-schedule row is the one that matches the booking-system price. CarlsbadConnect's Picnic Area 2 rates cover 9 a.m.-5 p.m. only. | $24 / hr (2-hr min) |
| Uncovered picnic area, 3 or fewer tables - Picnic Area 1, Picnic Area 2 - Carlsbad residentcomputed: Individual rate less the fee schedule's 10% resident discount (the City does not print resident prices or define 'resident') | $21.60 / 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 (2)
- Picnic Area 1 - up to 25 guests
- Picnic Area 2 - up to 25 guests (CarlsbadConnect's rates for this area cover only 9 a.m.-5 p.m., although its description says 8 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Unclear: the City's park page says 'This park is not available for rentals', but CarlsbadConnect lists two picnic areas as bookable (listed here) and the Rentals page's picnic-area table omits Hosp Grove. Confirm with Parks & Recreation (442-339-2510) before planning a party here.
At a glance
- Capacity
- 25 guests
- Setting
- Outdoor
- Hours
- 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (City facility page; CarlsbadConnect descriptions say the same, but Picnic Area 2's booking rates cover only 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
- Parking
- Available
- Run by
- City of Carlsbad
Amenities
- Restrooms · portable only
- Playground
- Picnic tables
- BBQ grills · not listed
- Sports fields (no)
- Beach access (no)
- Dogs allowed (no)
- Accessible (ADA) · not listed
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). CarlsbadConnect does not say whether the Hosp Grove picnic areas have room for a bounce house, and the park's rental status is itself unclear.
- 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). Any vendor you hire for a rental must show proof of general liability insurance and hold a City of Carlsbad business license (CarlsbadConnect). 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. Leashed dogs are allowed on the citywide trails (City Parks page), including the Hosp Grove trails that start here, but not in the park itself.
How to book
Reservation status is unclear: the City's park page says Hosp Grove is not available for rentals, but CarlsbadConnect lists two picnic areas. Call 442-339-2510 before planning on it.
Location
Jefferson St. and Marron Road, Carlsbad, CA 92008 · Pin from the City of Carlsbad facility map. 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.
- carlsbadca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/36/7400
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2006/639241133888370000
- ca-carlsbad.civicrec.com/CA/carlsbad-ca/catalog
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2004/637433863363600000
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/3970/639240332506700000
- carlsbadca.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks-community-centers/parks
- carlsbadca.gov/departments/parks-recreation/trails/hosp-grove
- carlsbadca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/14820/638427316118470000
- ecode360.com/44007387
- ecode360.com/44005777
- carlsbadca.gov/departments/parks-recreation/rentals
Abbreviations: CMC: Carlsbad Municipal Code (City code) · ANAC: Alga Norte Aquatic Center · FY: fiscal year