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Community Corner

Let's Go: The Ins and Outs of Sonoma's Best Parks

We are really lucky to have some great parks in Sonoma. Here's your go to guide for a great family day outdoors.

Summer has finally arrived and the weather is just perfect. Time to hit the park!

We are really lucky to have some great parks in Sonoma.  But when I first moved here, about three-years ago, I only knew of the two main parks: the Sonoma Plaza and Maxwell Park. I asked other parents, and slowly but surely, I found them all. Some are definitely a little harder to find, but worth it.

I am going to share with you the guide I wish I would have had when I first moved here.  Remember to pack your park bag with all the essentials including water, sunscreen, band-aids, hat and snacks. And go have fun!

Not to miss:

Maxwell Park: At the corner of Highway 12 and Verano Avenue.
Picnic area, barbecue pit, large playground, soccer and softball fields, tennis courts, Boys and Girls Club, skate park, bike path, woods, open space, creek, and 40 acres of natural trails. Parking is $6 per vehicle or purchase a pass from the Sonoma County Parks department. This month they are doing their annual membership drive: $69 buys a family membership and you get a special discount card. The special runs until June 30, 2011.

: An oasis on a hot summer's day. Relax on the grass under leafy shade trees, on park benches and outdoor tables, or in the large playground with climbing structures and swings for little kids. Toss the breadcrumbs from your picnic to the ducks chugging around the little pond. (If you're picnicking on the grass, look out for ducks waddling your direction, hungry for handouts.) There are bathrooms and lots of yummy restaurants to get a snack.

Smaller Contenders:

Olsen Park: 569 Linda Drive.  Small park just off of the bike path between 5th Street West and Juniperro Serra Drive. Nice grass area and good size play structure with swings. Take 5th St. West to Linda Drive and turn left. Park is on left side. No shade on the playground or bathrooms, but you can follow the bike path all the way to for a snack.

Armstrong Park: 550 Patten Street. Right in the middle of gorgeous Armstrong Estates is this quaint, fun park. Nice play structure and grass area with lots of trees. Nice winding path throughout the entire park for scooter or bike riding. Picnic benches are scattered throughout and there are BBQ pits.

K.T. Carter Park: 1135 Fryer Creek Dr. All brand new playground equipment. Four swings, climbing wall, and play house make this a really fun park. It also has a basketball court, grass area, picnic benches and BBQ pits. A small path goes through the park in a loop making it ideal for kids who like to scooter or ride a bike and not venture off to far while you are pushing a little one in the swing. The only down sides are no shade on the play area and no bathrooms.

Ernie P. Smith Park: 18776 Gilman Drive, between Gilman Drive and Arnold Drive. Playground and picnic area, softball field, outdoor environmental learning area, wetlands area and dog park. Much bigger park than it looks. The dog park is fun to watch and there is a nice walk through the park. No shade on the play structure but there are porti-potties.

Pinelli Park: Located at 433 France Street this park has also been recently renovated. It is a very cute park tucked in from the street with trees and a brand new play structure.

Hertenstein Park: 1055 Berryessa Drive. One of my favorite parks if you can find it! Nice play structure with 2 slides and great sand to dig in. Large grass area to play ball and the trail around the park is a complete loop and perfect for bike riding around the park. I love that the park is closed off on the back. There is a dry creek, and there isn’t any shade on the play structure, but there is a nice tree on the grass area for a picnic. You can also get to the park from the bike path between MacArthur Street and Leveroni Street: just pass through the orange gates in the middle of the bike path and venture down the street a bit and you will see it.

Larson Park End of DeChene Avenue. Boyes Hot Springs. Has a playground, picnic area, tennis courts, softball and soccer fields, creek. Directions from Highway 12: turn left onto Boyes Boulevard, then right onto Greger Street. Turn left on Lichtenberg Avenue and right on DeChene Avenue. Follow DeChene Avenue to the end and into Larson Park.

Something Different:

Cornerstone- Located just down Arnold drive on the left side if you are coming from town. You can’t miss the big blue Adirondack chair out front. Such a fun place place to spend the morning or whole day. My kids love the mini-golf course, cool barn for playing hiding and seek, sand area and huge cylinder tunnel. They have a restaurant on site for having lunch or grabbing a snack.

Sonoma Garden Park- Located on 7th Street East, they have a working farm and the park features demonstration gardens, barn, fig forest, pumpkin patch, over 150 fruit trees, bee hives, interpretive displays, solar well, crop circle, as well as scenic walking trails. You can can rent community garden plots, shop at the harvest market (Saturdays from 9a.m.-1p.m.,) observe wildlife, and picnic. Such a fun spot and my kids love visiting in the early fall when the apples are dripping off the trees!

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