Spring Days at the Park

William Pond Park and Lower Bidwell Park

The beginning of spring gave us all an outdoor itch. We had been cooped up with chilly weather long enough! We scheduled back to back picnics on Saturday and Sunday. One was a family & friends event, the other was with Liberty Tax Service - Paul’s seasonal employer.

On Saturday, our destination was William Pond Park in Sacramento. This county recreation area is part of the American River Parkway. There was a $5 per car charge for day use. There were tons of picnic spots with choices in the sun or shade. The BBQs were the largest and nicest I had ever seen. The bathrooms were clean and spacious though limited in number to one locking bathroom each (men’s/women’s).

This park has a large man-made fishing pond that’s handicapped accessible, nature trails, and lots of room for Frisbees, volleyball, or other active outdoor games. The Jedediah Smith bicycle trail runs through the park making it an ideal starting/stopping place for a ride. There’s also a bridge over the American River to Goethe Park and its 400+ acres.

While some members of our group set out on a geo-caching adventure, others took a leisurely stroll or bicycled part of the trail. The weather was breezy at times, but a light jacket and a little pedal action took the chill off. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time.

The next day we headed to Lower Bidwell Park’s One Mile recreation area in Chico. There wasn’t a fee to access this park and it’s absolutely gorgeous. There were spacious group picnic areas as well as individual spots. The park was maintained well and had several playgrounds including a themed “Capers Acres” locale that was the best freebie I’ve ever seen for the pre-school crowd. The bike and pedestrian trails were beautiful and the park was extremely SHADY! There was also Sycamore Pool, a “natural” swimming area built around Big Chico Creek.

Our visit occurred on a very chilly day, but we had a good time playing cards and getting to know other families. I’m looking forward to returning on a warmer day.