Parks are Perfect Party Playgrounds : Entertaining: Outdoor facilities are an increasingly popular alternative when space is short and the guest list is long. Children especially love the open space.

Time was when the Huntingtons, Gambles and other well-to-do families in the San Gabriel Valley could throw dazzling parties for a few hundred guests in the comfort of their own lavishly appointed estates.

But these days, when guest lists for children’s birthday parties, wedding receptions and company picnics threaten to bulge beyond the seams of the average home, area residents increasingly are turning to community parks to host their large-scale festivities.

Most community parks are simple stretches of grass dotted with a few picnic tables and a playground. But others in the San Gabriel Valley offer a wide range of amenities--from lighted basketball courts to lawn-bowling greens to hiking trails--and make ideal party sites.

“Definitely parks are becoming more popular,” said Mary Harley, reservations coordinator for the Pasadena Recreation Department. “More people are reserving, so it’s really busy. From January to August, I get anywhere from 20 to 40 calls in a five-hour period.

“From September to December, it’s moderate,” Harley said, “but . . . there’s (still) a lot of activity at the parks.”

Take a recent weekend at Almansor Park in Alhambra, where Grace and Leo Tengco were throwing a birthday bash for their 8-year-old twins, Jacqueline and Katherine, in a lakeside picnic shelter.

Close by, soccer and softball games were in full swing, punctuated by shouts and cheers. Groups of teen-agers were chattering and giggling. A little farther away, more dignified outbursts escaped from an older crowd clad in dazzling white outfits and visors who were engaged in the delicate art of lawn bowling.

The Tengco twins, though, ignored the noise as well as three wedding parties that gingerly picked their way past the picnic shelter in search of strategic photo spots. Instead, Jacqueline and Katherine--”Jaya” and “Kaya” to friends--kept an eye on the steadily growing pile of gifts and discussed the pros and cons of turning 8.

When she woke up that morning, Kaya said thoughtfully, “I felt the same--like I was 7.”

But Jaya noticed a change immediately: “When I woke up, I felt like I was 8. I felt smarter and happier.”

Their mother, however, was decidedly tired after going all out in decorating the shelter according to the theme of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” the twins’ favorite film.

“Little Mermaid” tablecloths and plates, as well as schools of goldfish swimming in glass bowls, adorned the tables. A mermaid pinata swayed gently in the breeze in time with the movie’s sound track. And as the final touch, a live mermaid, courtesy of FairyTale Characters Professional Entertainment, was coaxed into performing a magic show.

The park, for Grace Tengco, was the solution to the problem of throwing a large party.

“My house is not big enough to entertain a big number of people. We’re supposed to have 150 guests,” said Tengco, who lives in Los Angeles. “We invited my kids’ whole class, and my friends have a lot of kids. . . . I (looked) for a park that has a lake--I like that--and I just found it by accident.”

Her friend Sharon Frias, who brought her 6-year-old son to the party, agreed that the park setting was ideal. “I’d rather have (the kids) outside than running around inside the house. Having them outside saves you the mess people make indoors, and it’s just easier--when the party’s done, everyone just goes home,” she said.

“That’s the reason why parents would rather have their kids’ parties out in the park,” Frias said. “It saves them the cleaning up, and the kids have more space to run around.”

Here, for anyone seeking a place to park a child’s birthday party, family reunion or weekend softball game, is a list of selected San Gabriel Valley parks and their amenities. In some cities, reservations are available only for residents. No alcohol is allowed in city parks, except in Covina.

ALHAMBRA--Almansor Park, 800 S. Almansor St. (818) 570-5081 daytime, 570-5052 evenings. Picnic area with barbecues. Reservations accepted (fees range from $20-50). Children’s play area. Two man-made lakes. Athletic facilities: gymnasium, four softball fields (three lighted), three lighted tennis courts, golf course, horseshoe pits, jogging trail, lawn-bowling green, shuffleboard deck.

ARCADIA--Wilderness Park, 2240 N. Highland Oaks Dr. (818) 355-9938. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Reservations accepted (minimum $15 fee; residents only, youth and nonprofit groups excepted). Large multipurpose field. Nature center. Nature trails and a “Braille trail” with a chain to guide blind visitors and signs in Braille describing the flora and fauna. Campfire circle.

AZUSA--Memorial Park, 320 N. Orange Ave. (818) 334-2611. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: gymnasium and teen center (pool tables, study hall, stereo TV, video games, snack bar, weight room), two lighted baseball diamonds, four lighted basketball courts, three lighted tennis courts.

BALDWIN PARK--Walnut Creek Nature Park, 701 Frazier St. (818) 813-5243. Picnic area with barbecues. Reservations accepted, even for overnight stays (fees vary). Children’s play area. Hiking areas feature flora and fauna native to San Gabriel Valley Canyon area, with especially beautiful wildflowers in spring. Campfire circles (call ahead to use).

CLAREMONT--Memorial Park, 840 N. Indian Hill Blvd. (714) 399-5496. Picnic area with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: softball diamond, lighted basketball court, lighted tennis court, two lighted sand volleyball courts, shuffleboard deck.

COVINA--Covina Park, 4th Avenue and Badillo Street. (818) 858-7271. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Reservations accepted (fees vary). Children’s play area. Softball field, two basketball courts, two lighted tennis courts, horseshoe pit, jogging track, small fenced area for roller skating. The Covina Arts and Crafts Assn. sets up display booths every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beer and wine allowed (no kegs or bottles).

DIAMOND BAR--Heritage Park, 2900 Brea Canyon Road (714) 595-1261. Picnic area with barbecues. Reservations accepted (free for residents; $4.80 per 10 people for non-residents). Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: lighted softball field, basketball court.

DUARTE--Royal Oaks Park, 2627 Royal Oaks Drive (818) 357-7931. Picnic area with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: two basketball courts, two lighted tennis courts, exercise/fitness course, volleyball court. Recreation building. Equestrian trail.

EL MONTE--Lambert Park, 11431 McGirk Ave. (818) 580-2223. Picnic area with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: two lighted baseball diamonds, gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, children’s wading pool (summer only).

GLENDORA--Finkbiner Park, Wabash and Minnesota avenues. (818) 335-9130. Picnic area with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: three softball fields (two lighted), basketball court, horseshoe pits, two lighted tennis courts, sand volleyball court, shuffleboard deck. Park does not accept reservations, but an American Legion building on the property may be rented for $150 for the first hour, $24 for each hour thereafter. There is a two-hour minimum. For reservations, call (818) 914-8228.

IRWINDALE--Irwindale Park, 5050 N. Irwindale Ave., behind City Hall. (818) 962-5070. Picnic area with barbecues; picnic shelter for residents only ($3 an hour). Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: indoor multipurpose room, lighted softball field, two basketball courts, swimming pool (summer only), four lighted tennis courts, volleyball court.

LA PUENTE--La Puente City Park, 501 N. Glendora Ave. (818) 968-4224. Picnic area with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: gymnasium with volleyball court, two lighted baseball diamonds, three lighted basketball courts, four handball courts, two lighted tennis courts.

LA VERNE--Heritage Park, 5001 Via de Mansion. (714) 596-8700. Picnic area with barbecues. Children’s play area. Riparian trail. Two historic buildings, Weber House and Sloan Barn, have been moved to the site for park-goers to wander through, next to a two-acre orange grove.

MONROVIA--Library Park, Myrtle and Lime avenues. (818) 357-5046. Picnic area; no barbecues. Children’s play area.

MONTEREY PARK--Barnes Park, 400 S. McPherrin Ave. (818) 307-1388. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts, lighted softball field, jogging track, Olympic-size swimming pool (year-round), two lighted tennis courts.

PASADENA--Brookside Park, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd. (818) 794-0581. Picnic areas with barbecues. Reservations accepted (fees vary). Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: lighted baseball diamond, two lighted softball fields, lighted football/soccer field, two Olympic-size swimming pools and a wading pool (year-round), five lighted tennis courts. Equestrian trails nearby.

Victory Park, 2725 Paloma St. (818) 794-0581. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Reservations accepted (fees vary). Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: gymnasium, lighted baseball diamond, three lighted softball fields, lighted football/soccer field, sand volleyball court.

POMONA--Ganesha Park, 1600 N. White Ave. (714) 620-2321. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: informal baseball field, half-Olympic-size swimming pool with barbecue pits (summer only; reservations accepted for evenings), two lighted tennis courts. Physical fitness course. Hiking trails.

Palomares Park, 499 E. Arrow Highway. (714) 620-2321. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: lighted softball field, two lighted basketball courts, horseshoe pits, lawn-bowling greens, shuffleboard deck, soccer field, four lighted tennis courts, two volleyball courts. Palomares Adobe, a free museum, shows early Pomona artifacts.

ROSEMEAD--Garvey Park, 7933 Emerson Place. (818) 288-6671. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts, two lighted baseball diamonds, swimming pool (summer only), five lighted tennis courts. Clubhouse for meetings.

ROWLAND HEIGHTS--Rowland Heights Park, 1500 S. Banida Ave. (818) 912-6774. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: two lighted softball fields, two lighted basketball courts, two lighted tennis courts.

SAN DIMAS--Marchant Park, 425 E. Juanita Ave. (714) 592-4344. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: two baseball fields, basketball court, two lighted tennis courts.

SAN GABRIEL--Vincent Lugo Park, Wells and Ramona streets. (818) 308-2875. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Children’s play area, including a marine-theme playground. Athletic facilities: lighted baseball field, horseshoe pits, wading pool (summer only).

SAN MARINO--Lacy Park, 1485 Virginia Road. (818) 304-9648. Closed Sundays. Picnic areas; no barbecues or fires allowed. Admission to the park is free, but non-residents must pay $3 on Saturdays. Groups of more than 15 must obtain a $50 permit through City Hall. Play area for children. Athletic facilities: softball diamond, six tennis courts open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All-day tennis court fees range from $3 to $7 per person.

SIERRA MADRE--Sierra Vista Park, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. (818) 355-2355. Picnic area with barbecues. Party reservations are accepted for every day except Sunday (residents pay $50 for all-day use; non-residents $80). Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: two lighted softball fields, basketball courts, baby and adult swimming pools (year-round), sand volleyball court, two lighted tennis courts.

SOUTH EL MONTE--New Temple Park, 1450 Lidcombe Ave. (818) 444-8184, (818) 579-2043. Picnic area with barbecues. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: two lighted baseball diamonds, two lighted softball fields, basketball courts.

SOUTH PASADENA--Garfield Park, Mission Street and Marengo Avenue. (818) 799-9101. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Reservations accepted (free). Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: horseshoe pits, two lighted tennis courts.

TEMPLE CITY--Live Oak Park, 10144 Bogue St. (818) 443-8124. Picnic area with barbecues. Party reservations are accepted--from residents only--for every day except Sundays and holidays. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: lighted baseball diamond, lighted softball field, basketball courts, seven tennis courts (three lighted), volleyball court, wading pool (summer only).

WALNUT--Suzanne Park, 625 Suzanne Road. (714) 595-7543. Picnic area with barbecues. Reservations, available for residents only, are free. Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: four baseball diamonds (one lighted). Equestrian center with two small arenas.

WEST COVINA--Cortez Park, 2441 E. Cortez St. (818) 814-8420. Picnic shelters with barbecues. Reservations accepted (free). Children’s play area. Athletic facilities: two baseball diamonds (one lighted), football field.