Who was Cappy Ricks? I tried looking it up for research before I wrote this. I wanted to…read moredisperse some knowledge to y'all. The info I found was on IMDB about some movie called Cappy Ricks that was made in 1937. Some sailor or something. Then I found an old book that you can read on line about Captain Ricks or "Cappy" Ricks: http://books.google.com/books?id=VA81AAAAMAAJ&dq=who+was+cappy+ricks%3F&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=utyaS7CVNo-yswPiu_V9&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false Why this park is named after this person I still dont know. However, this little park is usually a nice stopping point for my husband and I on our walks down town. The playground is small. They do have bathrooms available, not Port-O-Potty's like some parks. Their tennis courts and basket ball courts are all clean and well lit. Who ever does the landscaping does an excellent job also. I have never seen anyone here before, but I like it and am proud it's a part of Martinez. Sorry I cant make the association of Martinez to Ol' Cappy Ricks, because I would really like to know also.

Here's some more historical information courtesy of Martinez Patch:…read more Clarence A. Ricks, "Cappy" Ricks, was the mayor of Martinez from 1940 - 1945, serving two terms. Through his public service, he made a significant impact on developing the city of Martinez. He served on the city council for 16 years and he was the president of the Martinez Real Estate Board. This park was dedicated to him by his son. On the Arreba Street side of the park is a plaque, but it isn't about Cappy Ricks. The plaque tells the story of the Christian Brothers' Winery and how from 1879 - 1932, a 70 acre parcel of land, including this park land was owned by the Christian Brothers Religious Teaching Order, founded by Saint John Baptist De La Salle. According to Wikipedia, De La Salle is credited with establishing a regime of education which emphasized the good student, banning corporal punishment from their institutions. The plaque goes on to say, "It was on this property that the brothers constructed their novitiate, the De La Salle Institute, and founded what was to become one of California's most famous wineries."

Very spacious clean and well maintained park. The children's…read moreplayground was very clean and fun.

Nice play structures and lots of room to play on the grass. The park is mostly shaded in the…read moremorning.

Out for our weekend walk the honey and I ambled into Hidden Valley Park after walking through…read moreHidden Lakes Park. Personally, we enjoyed this park more as it was paved and had more amenities, such as exercise equipment and children's play spaces. It could definitely use more culture and zhuzh as there were many spots where a bit of design (such as a mural) would have improved the vibe. But that being said, it wasn't too bad for a mid-sized neighborhood park. Our favorite areas were the small overlook with stone bench and the bridge that connected back to the trail towards Lakes. Sadly, like Lakes, some of the trails that lead down from the bridge were a bit washed out so we didn't get explore as much as we would have liked but all in all we much enjoyed getting some steps in and would definitely come back - but perhaps on a day where it's not raining.

A really nice and super clean park. I stumbled across this park while doing some light hiking at…read morethe adjacent Hidden Lakes Park. These two parks are often confused as one park, but they actually intercept each other. This is an excellent place to bring the kiddies as there is a pretty large play structure in tow. There's also a huge grassy field that's perfect for picnicking and other recreational activities. The walking paths are all paved and lead to other trails within nearby Hidden Lakes Park. There's tons of picnic space and each picnic area can be reserved for special events. You'll find a good amount of exercise equipment near a few of the walking paths. Parking is easy and there are clean restrooms on site. This is the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll or a light run. The large grassy field space is also very desirable for dog owners. I immediately noticed how clean this park was as soon as I arrived. They definitely do an excellent job of cleaning and maintaining this area. I'd say that this is one of the better local parks in the area.

First of all I would like to start off by saying that Wally and his crew did a fantastic job. I had…read morespent a better part of a year working on a play area project for our church down here in LA and even though there are plenty of companies that provide the same products and services closer to us, Wally always was upfront with the cost and timeline and right off the bat I felt comfortable with him and knew I could trust him. The worksite was always clean and they respected the property and what we represented. They came in and got the work done and the end product was better than i could have imagined. Well done boys! I would definitely hire them again!

Do not do business with this guy Wally and Professor Playground. He is nasty and his work is…read moreterrible. He made a serious mistake on the measurement of on his install and has forever ruined my backyard project. Then he would not take any responsibility for his mistake, then he tried to blame it on me. In addition he charged my more money for his mistake and would not finish the work. Then he wanted payment in advance before finishing the job. I can't warn you enough DO NOT do business with him. Steer clear of this guy. Now he is suing me for his work that he did not complete. Buyer Beware

It took me over a year to find Lucid Vitality and I'm so grateful and lucky that I did. I wasn't…read morelooking for a personal trainer to lose weight, get in shape, or build muscle (although, Deshaun can help you with every single one of the above if that's what your goals are!); and I needed a personal trainer who understood pain. This man not only understands pain, but he has a complete understanding of the human body which allows him to locate the problem areas in your body to relieve pain and identify the correct areas to focus on to exercise to strengthen. I've been working with Deshaun for almost 3 months now and he's helping me finally start fixing the problems that's been causing me pain for over 20 years. Not only through focused exercise and stretching; (if you're interested) he can complement the workouts with body work (massages) as well as meditation and diet recommendations to give you a holistic approach to attaining your goals. If you need someone to push you or someone to gently prod you along; he works with your personality to help you get to where you need. I'm very appreciative of his services and if you're looking for a personal trainer that takes a holistic approach to your physical and mental well being; be sure to reach out to Lucid Vitality!

I have been to many massage locations, usually getting deep tissue massages. I wanted to try…read moresomething different. Acupressure was something I was interested in and I was referred by a friend to check out Lucid Vitality. Deshaun was very friendly and welcoming. I chose the Zen Bodywork. It was very relaxing. Deshaun hit some pressure points and also helped with a bothering knee problem I currently have. After my 45 minute appointment, I felt like a new women. My knee wasn't hurting as much and felt very rejuvenated, like I just woke up from a well rested sleep. Thank you Deshaun for a very great experience! I'll be seeing you again soon -A very happy client =)

I'll preface this by saying I believe USC is probably the best option in the area. I have had two…read morekids going here for roughly a year plus. Pros: facility is solid it has a lot of potential activities and different ways kids can grow and learn gymnastics. They also have a play area which is clutch for dealing with kids who don't have class at the same time. Cons: teachers look often inexperienced and turnover is common. First few months we had two younger but quite vocal and directed coaches. Now it's tricky. In my other class we have more experienced coaches, but midway through the class they tend to lose focus and kids are sorta all over the place. They have some odd rules and enforce or change them at what seems random. Sit in the wrong spot? They'll announce a general warning not to do that. Bring your kids to the door that they used to let them in last week that without warning was changed to the other one? You bet that's gonna be a public service announcement about you messing up. Overall: experience is going to be class dependent especially with the teachers. If I knew there was a clearly better option I'd probably take it. As of now I believe USC is probably the best option in the area.

Abra has one of a kind energy! We attended an event there this past weekend and the facility was…read moresuper clean and prepared for the event. They were thorough making sure those that entered had clean shoes and sanitized hands. Staff was kind, helpful and friendly. It was a long day and staff stayed high energy and diligent throughout. Thanks for a great event!

Neal is truly the real deal. He's been training my son for over 2 years, and has made a great…read moreimpact on his athleticism. My son's speed on the baseball field and overall strength is due to Coach Neal's disciplined approaches. He is an expert at his craft and I recommend him abd his team without reservation for any young athlete looking to condition and gain invaluable insights on taking their talents to the next level.

Mike and his team are the BEST! If you're looking to go to the next level, Real Neal is the Real…read moreDeal! Knowledgeable and professional training for every athlete. You simply can't find a more dedicated and experienced gym.

Noah is an excellent swim coach, providing demonstrations and adjustments as needed. He is…read moreresponsive and suggested several pools we could meet at. Outside of the in person lessons, he's provided detail swim plans to practice technique. 10/10 would recommend HQ Swim Lessons!

I can't say enough positive things about Noah. I went into lessons literally not knowing anything…read more I couldn't even float. Friends and other instructors had tried to teach me in the past without much luck. After just the first lesson with Noah, I made more progress than I ever had before and noticed a huge difference in my comfort being in the water. He's incredibly kind and patient, and he breaks everything down in a way that's easy to understand. You feel comfortable almost immediately, even if you're nervous in the water like I was. If you've struggled to learn to swim with other instructors, I cannot recommend Noah enough!

Tina and Mac are amazing and thoughtful instructors. If you need a body or mind session they are…read morethe people to see.

Mac is very supportive as a trainer. Gives clear explanations of routine he wants me to do…read more Highly recommend!

Stanley is a very caring individual who goes above and beyond with a focus on making you feel…read morebetter. You've definitely get more than your money's worth! Stanley is very responsive to what is going on at present with the body and helps raise awareness of how the body is feeling and what it needs. His background and knowledge of physical therapy is evident which is a huge help for those of us dealing with current, recurrent or history of pain. He has a holistic view and addresses improved range of motion and function, including small changes to apply throughout the day to help maintain and strengthen body function. I learned a lot in a short time and am still practicing what he taught me every single day!

Stanley noticed I was limping at the gym and was kind enough to see if I was okay. I knew my foot…read morewas injured because I rolled it pretty bad slipping down a flight of stairs a week or so prior, but didn't know exactly what was wrong, or how to care for it. He was kind enough to take a look at my foot, and in under a minute was able to find out what was wrong, and helped me with a video on how to care for it while it's in recovery. His instructions helped so much and in one day I feel better. He went above and beyond to care for my injury, and make sure it has a proper speedy recovery. He was kind enough to take the time out of his day to look at my foot, text me instructions on how to care for it, and send me a video tutorial. Stanley knows his stuff with 21 years of experience and counting, I highly recommend him.