Woodbridge, Irvine, California facts for kids
Woodbridge is a big neighborhood in Irvine, California. It was started in 1975 by a company called the Irvine Company. This community covers about 2.65 square miles and has two large, human-made lakes right in the middle.
Woodbridge is home to several schools, including four elementary schools, two middle schools (Lakeside and South Lake), and Woodbridge High School. Most of the homes were built by the mid-1990s. However, in 2013, a new group of 48 homes called "The Branches" was started, which was the first new building in 15 years!
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Where is Woodbridge Located?
Woodbridge is found in Irvine, between Irvine Center Drive and the Interstate 405. It's also located between Culver Drive and Jeffrey Road.
To make it easier to picture, its borders are:
- North: Irvine Center Drive
- West: Culver Drive
- East: Jeffrey Road
- South: Interstate 405
What Does Woodbridge Look Like?
Woodbridge is split into two main living areas: North Lake and South Lake. A shopping and business area sits right in the middle, dividing them. A street called Yale Loop goes all the way around the entire Woodbridge community.
Each living area has its own lake at its center. These lakes are not very deep, usually between three and six feet. A large wooden footbridge crosses each lake, which is how the community got its name, "Woodbridge"!
The whole community is separated from the rest of Irvine by a line of pine trees and a tall, 20-foot (6.1 m)-high hedge. Most of the buildings in Woodbridge are designed in a similar style, like the New England Cape Cod look.
Woodbridge Village Association (WVA)
When homes in Woodbridge first started selling, the Irvine Company created the Woodbridge Village Association (WVA). This group is like a main homeowner's association. It takes care of all the shared areas, such as the pools, parks, lakes, and walking trails in the community. There are also smaller groups that look after specific neighborhoods within Woodbridge.
The WVA has a board of directors, which are people chosen by the homeowners in Woodbridge. Because Woodbridge is so large, and the WVA has a big budget and staff, it works a lot like a small city council. The WVA also hosts fun community events throughout the year, like an annual parade and fireworks show for Independence Day.
Everyone who buys a home in Woodbridge automatically becomes a member of the WVA. Homeowners pay a fee to help maintain and keep up all the common areas. The WVA provides many services, including landscaping, general maintenance, and lifeguard services during summer at the bigger pools and lakes. They also have a security team called "Facility Inspectors" who patrol and make sure everyone is safe at the facilities.
The WVA also asks homeowners to get approval for any additions to their homes or changes to paint colors. This helps keep the look of the community consistent. Sometimes, people criticize the WVA for being too strict, which can happen with many homeowner associations.
Lakes and Fun Places
Woodbridge has many great places for fun! There are two lakes with docks, two sandy "beach lagoons," 22 swimming pools (two are just for adults), 16 spas, 13 shallow wading pools for kids, 24 tennis courts, and a splash pad. You can also find many parks with play equipment, volleyball courts, a big wheel park, and horseshoe areas. In total, the WVA manages and runs 41 different recreational spots!
Each of Woodbridge's lakes has a "beach club" next to it. Here, you'll find a "lagoon," which is a freshwater swimming pool with sand around it that connects to the lake. There's also a dock where you can rent pedal boats, kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and hydro-bikes. For safety reasons, swimming directly in the lakes is not allowed. Both beach clubs also have two volleyball courts. The South Lake beach club even has a recreation room and a snack shop, but these are only open on the 4th of July and Memorial Day.
There are also two "swim clubs," Stone Creek and Blue Lake, on opposite sides of Woodbridge. These pools have lifeguards all day during summer and on weekends during fall, spring, and winter. Stone Creek has a two-meter diving board. Blue Lake has both a one-meter and a three-meter diving board. The Woodbridge swim teams practice at Stone Creek. Other pools like Fallbrook and Woodflower also have lifeguards in the summer. Ashwood has lifeguards like Blue Lake and Stone Creek.
With 24 tennis courts (20 of them lit for night play), walking paths, bike paths, and many parks, Woodbridge is a great place for young families and older adults who enjoy being active outdoors. The community tennis club also helps train young players.
Schools in Woodbridge
The schools in Woodbridge are part of the Irvine Unified School District. There is one high school, Woodbridge High School. There are also two public middle schools: Lakeside and South Lake.
The four public elementary schools are Stone Creek, Meadow Park, Springbrook, and Eastshore. All of these schools have been recognized as "California Distinguished" schools and "Blue Ribbon Schools" for their excellent quality.
Woodbridge High School also takes part in the United States Academic Decathlon, which is a competition where students show off their knowledge in many different subjects.
