Good place for a picnic and family gatherings, especially around the huge lake. Lots of families enjoying the sunset so bring blanket & chairs. There are outdoor events here in summer, so keep checking local calendar. read more

Great location for picnics and nice photography! Theirs soo many different locations within the park that can get your great views and nice photos! read more

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Everyone has been friendly and in control of their pets. I like coming out here to walk around let the puppy check out the scenery and let him get some air. read more

Fairmount Park - Chillin' at the park - Parks Near Me - Riverside, California

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Great place to go fishing and kayaking. What is real great is that they do not charge for you to fish at the lake. The boating pass is super cheap too! Did I mention free parking? read more

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Super kid-friendly park. We were drawn to this location for the lake and ducks, but were pleasantly surprised to find multiple playgrounds, including a circus/carnival themed one with water play during the hot summer days. Pack a picnic and bring cash for the various vendors (raspados, paletas, ice cream) for a fun, chill day. Only con were the large piles of dog poop (or possibly human) near the lake/gazebo area, so watch where you step if decide to walk around that area. read more

I work with foster youth ranging in age from 4-18. One of the best places for us to visit are parks and Fairmount Park is one I get asked to go to quite often. This is a rather large park and there are 3 play areas. 2 are close by and one you walk around the lake to get to. There are swings, sand, slides you name it. There are open areas for kids to just run and also and benches for parents to sit. When I come to this park I usually drive around the lake so the kids can see the giant tank that is sitting on the other side of the lake. It always elicits oooh's and aaaahhh's. Overall I do enjoy this park and there always seems to be kids playing here and I will continue to bring the kids I work with here. The only heads up is that there is a large number of homeless people who live in and around the park and the park can sometimes be littered with trash from people not picking up after themselves. read more

Lovely park got together with my girlfriend for a nice picnic Weather is absolutely beautiful would recommend this park on a lovely day with beautiful weather read more

This park was a disappointment. I took my grandson here to see and feed the ducks but what I found was very dirty surroundings, people openly drinking alcohol, homeless encampments, loud music, basically undesirable!!! read more

I went here on a Saturday to do some film stuff We thought it was beautiful when arriving, but later learned it depends where in the park. There's some cute little docks, I guess for fishing, that you can walk on. Although it was a Saturday, that part was deserted and it felt peaceful there. They also have some benches to relax with some beautiful trees to shade you We filmed around the park and entered into the area where the children's play area was. It was chaotic. There was the lady pushing the cart with mexican food and tons of people screaming and running around. The restrooms were disgusting. Gross. We saw a wedding being conducted and I felt sorry for the bride. The park barely has any parking. There were also some trucks that took up 3 parking slots to fit. read more

Park was disgusting. Water was full of trash including a floating tampon. A lot of people there, but they definitely need to clean the place. read more

I definitely remember coming here when I was a little girl to play with the ducks. My dad would buy a loaf of bread and we would just feed the ducks all day long. Or just playing in the many playgrounds it has. Now that I am a lot older it has changed but not in a bad way. There is more green, ducks, and fewer people. Unfortunately not that many people go to the park for entertainment anymore. It is a bum shame since the view of Lake Evans is so gorgeous when the sun sets. Especially that it has somewhat of an illusion as if it is changing colors. Frederick Law Olmsted the designer of Central Park in NY is also the designer of this park as well as some selected properties throughout Riverside. There is a lot of history within the park and nature that just makes this place an attraction to behold. The rose garden that is inside the park has multi-colored roses that are just beautiful. Definately one of those places to stop by at night. Even though the park closes a half an hour after the sun sets. read more

Fairmount Park - The view :) - Parks Near Me - Riverside, California

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My son loves this park it's nice lots of things to do....hiking fishing playing...but Also lots of illegal activities...not enuff cop presence for such a big park...and I'm not even a cop fan lol one time a stumbled upon a bathroom full of prostitutes getting dressed and ready to work the parking lot! Or the bathroom lol always shady ppl keeping a look out read more

The park is open during the pandemic which is great. There's vendors to buy snacks from, and it's so open you can find any space really to be away from people if that's your personality. Plenty of parking. Nice quiet park. My son loves looking at the water. It's very peaceful and the people around all seemed to be happy and enjoying themselves. We'll definitely keep coming back for a great day out with family! I highly recommend this park. read more

Rhythm of Riverside summer concert series finishes up Band: Stone Soul- Motown band This band was just ok. Maybe it was due to the wide range of vocal styles the lead singer tried to emulate (Little Richard, Gaye, Stevie, Jackie Wilson, Temptations, Stylistics, and the godfather-James Brown). The rhythm section was tight...especially the drummer. But with Motown era songs averaging 3-4mins each, there was a lot of ground to cover and little room for guitar/drum solos. Soul man Higher & Higher Im so in love with you Heard it thru the grapevine Do you like good music Get up off that thing Mustang Sally My Girl I'll be there Devil with a blue dress-Good golly miss molly medley Knock on wood Walk on Sex machine Uptight Aint too proud to beg Love train Hold on, I'm coming Superbad I feel good Shotgun Stand by me Quite a few May-December couples here and maybe that's the demographic but i still had a good time. read more

Fairmount Park is one of the most beautiful places to relax in the Inland Empire. The play area is large and contains a variety of activities for the children. On the day I visited, there was a B-B-Que vendor and the food was delicious and inexpensive. There was also a few clothing vendors which the ladies enjoyed visiting and purchasing rare finds. On my visit, I discovered that the Santa Ana river runs through the park which gives it lushness . The park has a beautiful trail that's connects to Mt. Rubidoux and a few other parks. Fairmount Park is a great place to spend the day with family and friends. I look forward to my next visit. read more

Finally time to rest from a long bike ride this park is pretty cool place to hang out at. It always has people celebrating weddings, quinceaneras and birthday parties. There's always people taking pictures to. you can also go fishing and rent paddle boats or just sit there and watch the ducks go by. read more

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Hi so I've come to this park before the scenery is beautiful! The ducks the wild life reminds of the park over in Fullerton! Loved it ! But I came with my family two days ago and I have a 2 year old ! Do you not have security or cameras at this park? It's enormous and to be honest after this incident I won't come back. This mom with her special needs son we're on the playground and my daughter wanted to play. I was trying to get my daughter away and the mom pushed my toddler. I asked her "please don't touch my kid" and collected her. I was polite and not aggressive as I could see her son was agitated. This woman jumps my face saying that my child is rude and has no manners and tried to say she had every right to move my kid away because her son is autistic.... And I just say "uhm she's 2 ...." This woman aggressively says bye bye !" Parents just be aware of this. Please watch your little ones because idk if this mom comes to this park frequently but I won't come back. I'm just sharing my experience and want all parents to be careful. read more

Pros: Very large park, great to go jogging, has a nice playground for children, has many areas for holiday picnic. Cons: Way too dirty! The lake smells disgusting and there is trash gathered in certain areas of the park. Homeless everywhere, which perhaps explains the trash issue. This also raises concern for park security. Has potential if cleaned up, had security and open/closing hours. City of Riverside .... get it together. read more

WONDERFUL time at the Magic Piggy Banks. Our 2 year old loved painting these adorable piggy banks. She can't stop looking at her messy but precious paw patrol piggy bank. What a memorable experience and souvenir to bring home. A tiny price to pay for such a fun and sensory experience. I regret not painting one for myself! read more

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This park is huge! We went based on reviews and for the playground. What a great playground for kids! The one for younger kids (2-5) was under a cover, which I especially liked even though she had sunscreen on. There were slides and things to climb. There were two separate areas of swings and a sand box as well. Definitely plenty to keep little ones occupied for a long time! My two year old didn't care, but the three adults in the group noticed some areas that need improvement. Despite being very pretty from afar, once we got up close, we found a dirty lake and ducks that looked scrawny. In addition, the playground area had an odor to it that said it had not been cleaned in awhile. I am only giving it 3 stars (3.5 if I could) because I think it has a lot of potential, but needs a little TLC! read more

Fairmount Park - Parks Near Me - Riverside, California

Very clean and nice scenery. I take my girls to take pictures here because there are many options of beautiful backgrounds where to take pictures. Also nice for walks and the park area is nice and clean for children. read more

Super cute park for getting pictures ! Always bring my daughter here for mini photo sessions. The bridge makes nice photo prop . Also the lake! read more

Fairmount Park - Lake is super cute as a background - Parks Near Me - Riverside, California

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This is my favorite park. My 2 year old daughter really digs the playground structures. There are two. The small one is a lot of fun, keeping her amused for a good 45 minutes at least. The big one is enormous, and she hasn't reached her limit yet for how long she can play there, especially when spontaneous friendships develop. Next to the big one is a small, uninspired splash pad and some sort of strange structure with musical stepping stones and spinny things. There's usually someone selling ice cream there fairly cheap, so bring a couple bucks and prepare for sticky messy toddlers. There are two lakes that host a whole lot of ducks, with a smattering of geese, pelicans, and even a swan or two. My daughter gets a kick out of feeding the ducks, chasing them away, feeding them, chasing, lather, rinse, repeat. There are people fishing there, but not too many that I had to worry about it. There is a path to the Santa Ana River Trail from the park, providing unlimited running and biking to guests. It's a nice ride around there, and it's well traveled and maintained, however there are creeps and weirdos walking and biking there too, and plenty of hiding spots, so you may want to bring a buddy or various self defense tools. There are homeless folks who hang around the park, but so far they haven't bothered us. There wasn't any overt drug use, either. There was this creepy greasy guy in an old pickup I saw in the parking lot. He spent an odd amount of time getting his shabby bicycle together, hung a gas can on the handlebars, then rode off to do whatever one does when they haven't run out of gas but need a gas can to go somewhere on a bicycle instead of driving a perfectly good truck. Nothing fishy there... In other words, secure or hide or sell your belongings before leaving your locked and insured car. Other than that, you might find a creepy guy or two roaming the park, and as I mentioned, more than that on the bike trail and road leading up to it. Keep an eye on your kids...it amazes me how many parents whip out their cell phones and tune out while their kids run around in a strange place around strange people. The structures are huge, so it's crazy easy to lose sight of your kids even when you're trying to keep an eye on them. This really is a great park. We easily spend 3 hours here, riding around, playing in the playgrounds, feeding/chasing ducks, and goofing off. She is out like a light within seconds of hitting that car seat. Highly Recommend! read more

Facts: It's a nice park, very big with excellent playgrounds for kids, even a small water park thing for them. Dog friendly. Ducks to feed. Fish to catch. Often live music. Rose garden. BBQ areas. Very photogenic place. The hype: It's a nice park but has always had a bad rep with a lot of people. Bums are there, yes. Big deal, I've fished with most of them and there harmless. I've never had one upset me or ask for money. There just trying to survive. I've also spent many many super late nights, 12am to 5am, there fishing and have never had any kind of trouble come my way. You should know: Although I've spent many late nights there fishing with no trouble from cops or anyone, I got a ticket the other day for being parked there after dark. This ad says 24hours but apparently ALL parks are closed 30 minutes after dark. I call crap on that. I've had cops pull up at 330am and just say hello, make sure I'm not smoking white, shooting black and smokin crack and than pull away no prob. Now all the sudden there handing out $41 tickets? This is not a 24 hour park. Be aware. Fish: There are bass, catfish, carp and trout. Are they hard to catch? Yes, for most people it's a heavily fished, hard to catch kinda lake. I've mastered the place and there are certain areas in which I have luck every time. The bass are smart, be smarter. Good luck. read more

I'm currently sitting on a park bench looking towards the lake feeling at awe taking in this beautiful sanctuary. I love parks and I feel as though this my my favorite one of all time. The lake is full of many breeds of ducks you can feed bread to. There are plenty of places to sit and there are lots and lots of lovely trees. Riverside is lucky to have a park this breathtaking. I feel like I'm on Galapagos Island. read more

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This park is so beautiful. It's a must see. Lots of wildlife. Baby ducks, various adult ducks, fish, turtles etc. the lake is much bigger than I thought and is worth driving all the way around to see it all. There is a rose garden fully in bloom right now and multiple walking areas. Playgrounds seem full of happy kids. There are giant inflated balls in the water right now that look like flowers, very cool to see. Nice decking to walk out on to see it too. There is a little waterfall that is nice to see. I even saw multiple people picking up trash with orange vests on. Not sure if it's community service or it's park and rec. cleaning the place up. I even saw volunteers picking up trash just out of the kindness of their heart and love of nature. It has not been trashy the last few days that I have been here. I have not seen any gangs, but I have seen a few homeless in a small section of the park. It seems they stick to a certain area away from the main areas. Cons: bathrooms are terrible. No locks on any of the stalls in one whole bathroom facility, another bathroom facility their were locks on most stalls, no toilet paper in some. Can't anyone flush a toilet? Do people expect someone else to flush for them? read more

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This park is beautiful especially during sunset. Lots of ducks in the water to feed. Big trees everywhere surrounding the lake. There's a rose garden near the end of the park that's gorgeous to see during spring and early summer. All summer on weekends you can rent a paddle boat which is really fun and a great leg workout lol and if your a riverside resident you get a discount. The ice cream man is always here on hot days. Lots of tables and plenty of grass areas to lay on. I don't know the rules on fishing but I see people doing it all the time. There are bike trails starting at the park that are fun. Sometimes it can get really crowded on holiday weekends and I wouldn't recommend coming here at night it can become quit sketchy in the dark but overall it's a beautiful park and a great place to bring your family. read more

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What a great park that is in the middle of riverside. It's minutes away from downtown and really a hidden gem here.

Wasn't there that long , but long enough to realize that cruising for some random sex wasn't gonna happen that day. Heard good things though

I bet I can beat all other reviews by saying I have been going to this place since the EARLY 1970's, so I have seen several decades of evolution. Damn I'm old, I almost qualify for "crazy cat lady" status. ,,,=^..^=,,,~~~~~~~ (chairman) Mao Early 1970's: As a kid, they used to rent out small motorized wooden boats, like small Chris Crafts from that white large-ish building on the edge of the water with the iron gates. That was the old boat house. What a delight as a child to ride with my family in those boats all around the lake!! It's a wonderful childhood memory. They also gave small sail boat lessons back then too. The lawn bowling was going strong and the tank and train were cool things to check out. I remember bands playing at the half-shell shaped bandstand, and they used to have a small but very cool carnival here, and some chickens and such in a pen. The Carousel had a calliope, and I loved the Tilt-A-Whirl! At night they had the park well lit with all sorts of magical white Christmas lights and it was a wonderful place to be as a kid. By the way, the lake was a murky green back then too. Check out ecology of ponds and you'll find that's the way it is. I remember the 'green floaties' in the water in the early 1970's so don't be too harsh about this. I even dangled my hands in the water and I can testify I am still alive today! Mid 1980's: Fast forward. Back in the 1980's the Park started to go downhill a bit. It was rumored it was a... Uhhhhh how shall I say, a "cruising place"and thus it sort of got a rep for being a bit, uhhh unsavory. The little carnival closed down, and it wasn't too safe at night, often even during the day shady characters seemed to hang out here too. It was no long a good place for children or so my perspective was. 1990's - 2000: Then in the 1990's - 2000 a lot of homeless people started congregating here. I think The Unitarian church set up a sort of every weekend soup kitchen and services for the homeless. Hey, I think helping the homeless is a wonderful generous thing, but it attracted homeless folks in droves and once again, made the park a bit unsavory. 2014: Now, fast forward to 2014. I took a drive out there and wow! It was looking about as good as ever, even after 40 years!! It WAS morning, on a weekday, so who knows, maybe it gets swamped on the weekends, but it was charming, cool, quiet, I saw that they are still giving small sailboat lessons. I toolied around the park twice just to enjoy it. An upgraded playground area looked like great fun for the kids, and ducks and geese and birds of all kinds hung out at this old fashioned slice of old Riverside. I did see a bum or two, but there was a "homeless intervention van" there talking to the guy, so, at least they get attended to. Barring the bums it was a joy to see it looking as good as ever. Thumbs up from an old timer!! You will love it! read more

The one star is not because of the park , the park it self is huge and could be beautiful. It's really dirty trash every where & the city doesn't maintain it well.the grass appears not to be cut in months , all trash cans are full, with although respect I don't think a good crowd of people are families visit there due to fact they have no manners to pick up their own trash , I even saw several vinders just throwing their trash on the grass. My personal in put it was gross compare to the parks in Rancho Cucamonga where I used to live. read more

The city park just off Market Street and Highway 60 has some charm and plenty of bums to warm the heart. The place has very sufficient parking and plenty of recreation for anyone in the family. The park is even offset by a lake in the center which you can walk or drive around. They do have two public tennis courts that are hard court and pretty clean at all times. They are also empty most of the day/night and have lights that work until about 10:00pm. The public park is also attached to a golf course that I haven't checked out to this date. If your in the area and work downtown you can really enjoy some great sporting events or exercise in the park. While their are always select bums roaming around have never bothered me while at the park I would advise not going alone as a woman. Play it safe and take a +1 if your a girl. read more

I used to be afraid to come here because someone told me the KKK have meetings here lol... I don't think that they do, and if they do I can understand why because it's a beautiful park :-P I've never done the paddle bikes, but I believe you can either on Wednesdays or Saturdays for a nominal fee. The ducks are a little snobby sometimes, but we usually go to farmer's market on Saturdays and buy good bread and they seem to like that. There are also geese in the smaller pond nearer to the golf course, they are beautiful, but sometimes loud and sometimes wont get off the road when crossing. There are SO many trees, it's easy to find a place to sit and relax and have a picnic or just hang out. My favorite area is the row of benches along the lake, not the actual area where there are parks. There are always a bunch of families having a reunion or a birthday party around that area on the weekends, and there is a rose garden that I often see girls taking their quincinera pictures there. It's a beautiful park from morning until dusk. read more

Big, beautiful city park, designed by Frederick Olmsted, the guy who designed Central Pk in NYC. Clean playgrounds, two lakes, fishing, BBQ/picnics, paddle-boat rentals, all the usual park activity. If you like to watch birds, numerous rarities have been seen here. My favorite place to ride my bike in Riverside. You can do a two-mile loop around the two lakes, staying on the road, or strike out onto the dirt trails that hug the shoreline. No matter how hot it is, it always seems cool, with all the water and trees. If you like to take photographs, there is some great scenery here. The usual urban park cautions should be observed. There doesn't seem to be much of a police presence here, so the ban on alcohol gets ignored. The park has its share of transients and homeless. They tend to gather in a group near the bowling green, and pretty much keep to themselves. There seems to be one or two families actually living here, pitching tents back under the trees. Times are tough! read more

+Nice park. +Doesn't smell. +Crowded on weekends. +I think there is an area in the back where homeless people live. +Free to visit, unlike Orange County owned parks. read more

Love this park. It's huge and sprawling. There's something to do for everyone! Kids play areas, picnic and barbecue areas. Grassy areas for lounging and relaxing. This place had quinceneras and weddings everywhere, birthday parties...yet we were still able to walk around and enjoy conversation and our own music playing without being bothered and without bothering anyone. Lots of natural beauty to be seen and a great place to get some fresh air and a lil exercise. We even saw some fishing!? Lol. We climbed some trees,hiked around and enjoyed Mother Nature. Highly recommend!!! read more

Fairmount Park - The wildlife aren't scurred! - Parks Near Me - Riverside, California

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They have ducks! A lot of ducks! Need I say more?? Though heed warning, these ducks are fearless. My date and I were surrounded by dozens of ducks (and what I believe are geese that were Pterodactyl in their past life). They are oblivious to the concept of personal space, but were friendly enough. We had fun! My four stars is not reflective on the park landscape, but more on the city and public! Please! Pick up your trash! It was heartbreaking to see such beautiful ponds filled with garbage. The water looked contaminated and as scary as those birds were at times, I hate the fact that they have to swim in that dirty water. Help keep your local parks clean! This park could be a lot more beautiful if the water was clean. read more

Fairmount Park - The sassiest birds. - Parks Near Me - Riverside, California

LOVE THIS PARK! I'm probably sooo ecstatic about it, because after living in Riverside County for 6 years (Eastvale), I had no idea it existed. It is a hidden jewel. Came here to take an introductory camera class with the Magic of Photo (shameless plug =). I'm not sure about the comments about it being dirty in the past. However, today it was just absolutely charming with a bit of everything for individuals, couples, families. Cannot wait to picnic here with hubby. read more

Went here to do a 9 miler - 4.5 out and in down the Santa Ana River Trail which lumps into the fairmount park for me since it connects. We had a decent run if not for the horrible sulfer-like smell that was surrounding us about 2 miles into the SART run.. it was ubiquitous and disgusting. Additionally, there is so little lighting that when the sun set and we were still 3 miles out from my car, we got a little frightened when we saw 2 hooded guys in the dark were watching us run..Literally they were hidden until we were close enough to run into them, Sketch as heck. So enjoy the park during the day but leave at night, I have a bad feeling about nighttime here. read more

Great place for family and for events highly recommend. I live the water park the many play grounds and the lake which offers paddle boat rides. read more