Community 4 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Moonscape was known to skaters as Sadlands, a play on one of the region’s historic skate parks, Badlands, in Upland. While we look back fondly on Moonscape’s skater days, it wasn’t to be. Life’s hard realities of safety concerns and ensuring families could still enjoy the play area led to a 1980s resurfacing that ended skating at this location (with eight skate parks across Anaheim today). Moonscape now is a funky twist on a play area, with its lunar theme and throwback vibes. One recent visitor likened it to a scene out of the 1960s cartoon sitcom “The Flintstones.” Moonscape is a reminder that great places can be found throughout Anaheim. This play area holds stories of Space Age enthusiasts, legendary skaters and curious newcomers. If you have kids or are looking for great photo ops for Instagram, check out this quirky, cratered slice of Anaheim at Brookhurst Park. craters, stalagmites, a lunar lander slide and a flying saucer merry-go-round. Built in the heart of the Space Age, the play area drew inspiration from the “Magic Moondeck” roof of the Kodak Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. The play area was an instant hit with kids and kids at heart who were fascinated by the moon landings of 1969 and 1972. This play area channeled that energy into a one-of-a-kind play experience. Back then, it was literally a Space Age dream made in concrete. Kids climbed craters, slid down the lunar lander and spun in flying saucers. Not long after, Moonscape took on another life entirely as an impromptu skate park, with skate culture booming in Anaheim and across Southern California. Among those who skated there was a teenage Tony Hawk, who once called Moonscape one of his favorite places. Tucked inside Brookhurst Park in a quiet corner of west Anaheim lies a place that looks like a scene out of a sci-fi movie. Moonscape play area opened in 1974 as a replica of a lunar landscape, complete with Moonscape: now a funky twist on a play area with its lunar theme and throwback vibes Moonscape is a reminder that great places can be found throughout Anaheim.
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