It seemed like a good idea, one that I got from reading about a similar tour over at AnnieBikes. It was supposed to be warm, so staying close to home seemed like a wise idea, though as I watched the temperature readings on the computer rise to 111º, 113º, 114º and ultimately one-hundred fifteen degrees, I began to realize that "close to home" could be a relative description. Tamera had begun to wilt with seven parks still to go; though she didn't quite make it to Higginbotham Park, she pushed on through the next three, reached the high point of the loop at Padua Avenue Park and then finished up with the final two on the downhill run to home.
In all truthfulness we did skip two parks - the Thompson Creek Trail (though were at two of its entry points) and the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park (closed due to a city-imposed excessive heat warning), but the other twenty, plus two HOA-maintained parks in twenty-three and a half miles made for fair morning jaunt. That heat was probably a new personal best too - though I have always favored the heat, I don't think I have ever been on the bike (maybe La Mirada Grand Prix got there) with temperature readings so high.
El Barrio Park - small park on Claremont Blvd with basketball court, playlot, restrooms, open turf area and large shade trees
College Park, home to Claremont Little League also has a playlot, open turf area, shade trees
Pooch Park, the city's dog park located adjacent to College Park
Blaisdell Park has a small community building, picnic areas, playlot, softball field, tennis court and multi-purpose court
I had never visited Rancho San Jose Park previously, but it is a beautiful little park with basketball court, off-leash dog area, play lot and a walking path.
Wheeler Park is one of the city's larger parks with two playlots, baseball field, basketball court, a roller hockey court (now used as pickelball courts), community building with restrooms, wading pool and a large open turf area with picnic tables
free little library at Wheeler Park appears all locked up
little Rosa Torrez Park occupies a sliver of land and has a playlot in one of the city's newer housing developements
Shelton Park in the heart of the Village is home to a small performance stage and has picnic nodes around the central turf area (designed by Architerra Design Group)
Mallows Park, at the corner of Indian Hill and 6th does not really have a sign like the other parks, but does have a restroom, tennis court and open turf area.
Mallows Park also has one of these angels
Memorial Park is kind of the centerpiece for community events - concerts in the park at the bandshell, site of the 4th of July festivities, Easter egg hunt, Memorial Day dedications, etc, it also has picnic areas, tennis court, lighted basketball court, playlot, restrooms, lighted sand volleyball court, wading pool, the historic Garner House, home of Claremont Heritage, and the Ginger Elliott Gallery.
Garner House
Larkin Park with a basketball half-court, lawn bowling greens (usually used by the AYSO, picnic areas, playlots, restrooms, softball field, is also site of the Joslyn Senior Services Center
the Claremont Joslyn Center
bowling green at Larkin Park
Larkin Park
Lewis Park has basketball courts, picnic area, two playlots, restrooms, a day camp building, and is site of the Alexander Hughes Community Center
Alexander Hughes Community Center
Griffith Park is the lone city park west of Towne Avenue, but has two baseball fields, a basketball court, picnic areas, playot, soccer field, and restrooms
Cahuilla Park on Indian Hill Blvd, adjacent to the high school, has lighted baseball fields and basketball courts, picnic areas, a playlot, softball fields, restrooms, tennis courts and a skate park
the La Puerta Sports Park includes a restroom facility for the lighted soccer and softball fields
Higginbotham Park was our favorite when the son was still young, with playlot, open turf area, shade trees and is adjacent to the Thompson Creek Trail (with access to Sycamore Canyon)
Higginbotham Park
Jaeger Park has a newer playlot and picnic areas along the north side but is otherwise a large open space
it got really hot right about at this point
Padua Avenue Park is another sports park, with soccer fields, walking path and restrooms
June Vail Park
Chaparral Park, on Mills Avenue has sports fields and a play lot and large shade trees
in addition to the many city-maintained parks, there are numerous HOA-maintained parks in the city - among them, and one that I had never previously visited is the Blaisdell Ranch Preserve, a passive use park with walking path, central turf area, shade trees and is leashed dog friendly
finally, our tour finished up by rounding another HOA-maintained park; unnamed we have always just referred to it as the little park with no toys
Wheeeeww! Considering everything, a longer tour than I thought (unfortunately I forgot to start the Relive until the first park, so the video is about three miles short:
Woah, what perserverence, what heat. I like the bike racks at Larkin Park. It took us at least four outings to ride to 31 parks so you two are pretty hearty. I think it's interesting how you can discover something new b doing challenges like these.
ReplyDeleteI think it is easy for people for fall into a routine and fail to take advantage of what they often have nearby. In my previous career working at a museum, people from the surrounding neighborhood came in all the time saying, "I can't believe that after all these years I have only just now been here." If not for this challenge, I probably would have continued to be oblivious to the Blaisdell Ranch Preserve. The city has been really good about installing bike racks - even little Rosa Torrez Park has one, while the others have them in multiples. Thanks for the idea!
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