This is the closest park to my house and it's always looked like a nice and clean park. Today, I…read moretook my 2 pugs here for a 10 minute stroll and they didn't want to move. I felt the "grass" and it was painful to the touch. Like a bunch of needles stabbing me. This is disappointing that the mostly dead grass is also razor sharp. Wish the city (or whoever is responsible) would be able to at least make the grass safe for dogs to walk on or children. If a child falls, their hands will be stabbed. Come on, Bakersfield! Please use my property tax money to turn the sprinklers on at the park next to my house! Thanks!

This park is clean and fun to go to. My daughter always has a good time! Definitely a return park…read morefor us!

Decent local park with sports park areas. Attached to the school. It's a good place to walk the…read moredogs or to take a walk- especially when the weather is nice. Kids at night load up the park- I wouldn't recommend going after dark.

Great expansive park with plenty of grassy areas to roam with the kids the dog - on a leash of…read morecourse. There's even a paved walkway all the way around the park which is great for walking. You'll find full sized basketball courts, four smaller baseball diamonds + one larger and a splash pad. We've also always see a ranger closing up towards the evening - which is nice to see. This is a great park for the community.

This park has it all, the fishing, an amphitheater, water fountain for pictures, ducks, kids zone,…read morebike path. If you need that family time or a little romantic walk this is the place to go.

The Park at River Walk is a lively place for people to have picnics, enjoy a walk/run, admire the…read morewildlife, or head to the Dignity Amphitheater for events. My best friend and I took a break from studying so that we can go for a walk here. Honestly, this park is so nice and I wouldn't mind laying out a blanket on the grass and reading under a tree. It was a refreshing place to relax our minds. I loved seeing the ducks and geese wading in the water. For the most part, the park is kept clean but it makes me sad to see garbage accumulate where the animals swim.

This is a nice park that we use for walking. There are a lot of big trees, and the "footprint" the…read moreshade provides is very good. We generally walk the outer edges of the shade in order to avoid the sun and the heat. The park is clean, including the restrooms. The times we have been here there were no encampments of those down on their luck. The outer perimeter of this park is somewhere like 1200 steps if you are counting. With the mature trees present, about 70% of this walking is in the shade if you go in the morning.

Emerald Cove Park, located on the Southwest corner of Patton and Hageman, is a great little park…read morewhich I've been visiting on and off for over ten years, though not as much in the last two or three as I used to. Ten years ago, when my youngest brother was still in high school, we would raid the deli department at Vons and have picnics here on the grass under one of the many shade trees. Parking here is a little tricky. You can park along the curb on the West side on Patton (east side is marked no parking) or you can turn West onto Maleta, then North onto Gallio to park in the lot next to the elementary school. There are individual picnic tables spread randomly throughout the park under the trees, some with their own individual barbecue grills. There is also a large covered area shading a number of long picnic tables which were being used for a children's birthday party on the Sunday I was there with a large bouncy house set up nearby for their entertainment. The group picnic shelter, with a capacity of 80 people, can be reserved by contacting the NOR Parks & Recreation District at 392-2020 and filling out an application form. The cost for reserving the picnic shelter is $15 per hour, with a minimum 3 hour reservation. You can access the application at http://norfun.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/FR-100-Use-of-Facility-Online-Packet.pdf There are public restrooms located nearby. There a a number of recreational options available at this park. There is plenty of playground equipment available for kids of all sizes, some with bark below and some with a rubberized safety surface. There is a basketball half court complete with one basket that has a net. There is also an area for playing horseshoes with poles on either end. There is also a huge grassy area suitable for playing soccer (there was a group playing there this Sunday), picnicking, or for just running around. It has something to appeal to everyone in the family! There is even a geocache hidden somewhere within the park. Yes, I've found it, but I'm not giving you any clues, so don't ask. At 12.4 acres, this park can accommodate quite a few weekend picnickers and sports enthusiasts and the same time.

I would think they would update the parks that are already here and watch on how fast everyone…read moreproperty value will go up good clean and updated desperately needed parks and just think about it how the community can all come together and help bring life back into our once beautiful parks

Almondale Park is located in the West side of Verdugo between Reina and Chippewa. The large…read moreparking lot is accessible from Verdugo, but the park is also accessible by foot from Meadow Street if you don't mind parking curbside. There are large grassy fields perfect for playing sports. There are two play structures, one for older kids and one for younger with soft bark below. There are swings and plenty of benches where a parent can sit and watch their kids play. I see an area for playing horseshoes (sorry, you'll have to bring your own) There is a large covered area with long picnic tables perfect for reunions and other large get togethers. This picnic shelter can be reserved by contacting the NOR Parks & Recreation District at 392-2010 and rilling out an application form. The cost of renting the picnic area is $15 per hour with a minimum reservation of 3 hours. Applications can be downloaded at http://norfun.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/FR-100-Use-of-Facility-Online-Packet.pdf There are individual picnic tables spread throughout the park, perfect for an individual family to have a picnic or BBQ. There is a white gazebo/pavilion with a green metal roof which makes me wonder if they have concerts in the park. THis gazebo can also be rented out by the public by contacting NOR. There are public restrooms, but instead of the traditional men's and women's there are individual ones. The restrooms are passably clean and were stocked with toilet paper. There are cement sidewalks connecting all the various features. At 12.1 acres, Almondale Park has plenty of room and a little something for everyone.

Came to this park for a Dog Vaccine clinic. Park is wide, mini hills, not too busy. The baseball…read morefields were all in use with children. Shady areas near the road. Tons of parking. Husband said bathrooms were not that great. It's public. I understand.

This is a great little park. It's well taken care of/maintained and has 2 different playgrounds.read more

My review is based on the NOR Basketball League. While they…read moredo have nice basketball indoor courts with two refs per game, My complaint is the price of the NOR league has skyrocketed $35 per person up from $50, which is crazy considering they don't supply uniforms, but require it for your team. The courts have a dividing curtain, but the bell they use is too loud in general, and connected to the same system so you hear the other courts' buzzers which is confusing and annoying. If you could fix these issues and do something about the price (whether it be discounts for repeat players/team or provide some sort of customizable jerseys as part of the package would make us feel better about dropping $85 to play for 6 weeks of games.) Lastly, open basketball times need more slots and later in the evenings, most of us are at work during open gym.

Amazing park for large group events…read more My work recently held their annual picnic and opted to upgrade from Yokuts. We ended up choosing RiverLakes Ranch due to their multiple shaded picnic areas all connected via a concrete pad. We reserved all three online through the North of the River website. When we arrived a ranger was there to open the bathrooms, and had the trash bins empty and ready to use. There's also a nice childrens play area, grassy area (albeit overrun with ground squirrels) and a very nice community center. Our group was all very complimentary about the new location and no doubt we will be back!

North Rosedale Park is a rich green 14.4 acre oasis perfect for outdoor activities smack in the…read moremiddle of dry brown Bakersfield, and until today I never even knew it was here. My friend, Joan, likes to bring her dogs here to play and get exercise, but I'd never joined her so I was missing out on all the other opportunities there are here for good clean outdoor fun in the sun. There's quite a bit of equipment for children of all ages to clamber about and plenty of bark below to help soften a fall. There are public restrooms, though I did notice that there were also port-a-potties out front - not sure what was up with that. There is a large covered area with long picnic tables and adjacent barbecue grills perfect for large groups to picnic. You can reserve this picnic shelter, which has a capacity of 80 people, for your own group by contacting the NOR Parks & Recreation District at 392-2010 and filling out an application which can be downloaded here http://norfun.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/FR-100-Use-of-Facility-Online-Packet.pdf If you're into outdoorsy sports, there are four lighted sofball diamonds complete with bleachers. There is also a full sized tennis court, a full sized basketball court, and two basketball half courts. There were people practicing or playing on two of the baseball diamonds and on the tennis courts and random people picnicking with families the day of our visit. There is plenty of grass for kids or dogs to play on (please clean up after both groups) and picnic tables scattered randomly about the park. I think I may join my friend and her dogs for their next outing here.

It isn't the most glamorous parks but it gets the job done with the huge fields, the basketball…read morecourt and the playground. My kids love it right after school so it is one of our major places to attend.

This is the perfect place to go for a run or bike ride. The…read morepath is very long (I still don't even know how many miles!) and there are lots of side trails to explore. There isn't much shade and the views don't change too much even with longer distances, but it sure is a great place to exercise outdoors in Bako. So far, I've spotted coyote, rabbits, and road runners while riding my bike. People on the path are friendly and courteous to others when sharing the road. There are some unhoused encampments along the side of the Parkway, but with so many people on the trail cycling, skating, running, and walking, it always feels very safe.

I cycle all over the USA and some other countries, so last Sunday thankfully I was able to travel…read moreto Bakersfield to cycle the 20 mile (40 mile RT) paved Kern River Parkway Bike Trail I heard so much about. First I just have to say that the other cyclists I met on the trail here was so friendly that I thought that I was in Louisiana. What I mean is that when I am cycling in Irvine, Newport Beach or Santa Monica where I ride most of the time, less than 5% of other cyclists will say hello to you and less than 5% of other cyclists will respond if you say hello to them. But in Bakersfield, at least 75% of the cyclists that I past on the path said hello to me!! I could not believe it! I did not know what was going on? I was not used to that hospitality. What do they put in the water in Bakersfield? Maybe they all knew I was not from the City so they were being friendly--they probably all knew one another? It was a weird contrasting experience to life in LA. Anyway--I can write a book about my day on the Trail but will keep it concise: I parked at the River Walk Park which is located at 11298 Stockdale Hwy, 93311 (for those not from the city). Or you can can park at the outdoor shopping mall next door that has lot's of restaurants and a Target. (Don't park in front of any stores to bike ride--park in the middle or back.) From here, I first road the Trail West 9 miles to the end point. It's a lonely desolate stretch--I have never ridden anywhere where I was so alone for miles with no roads or cars. You can ride as fast as you want over here and bother no one. Every so often I came across someone. I did see a few single men and women riding alone that made me feel better. Then I returned to the River Walk Park--had lunch at the car from my cooler and then traveled East on the Path to the end. The East section passes bike stores, exit Coffee Road (which comes up right away) for Trader Joe's or Sully's Convenience Store or Starcrooks. You pass many parks and lakes and some restrooms. I saw on the East section of the path along the Kern River an Ecological Disaster with tons of garbage all over the river bed, graffiti, and homeless camping for endless miles. Some of the homeless were so entrenched that they had well developed tents, backyards, dogs, and even hanging clothes up to dry as if they have been living there for a long time. There were certain sections that were either scary or disconcerting riding the path alone. I felt like I needed to bring a handgun for protection to do this ride. As nice as it was having 20 miles of no car, well paved bike path in each direction, I am not sure I would do this ride again alone--I would if I returned with a riding partner. I gave the path 5 stars out of respect for Bakersfield years ago taking the planning time and resources to build a great bike and walking trail for the public. But what I saw going on along at least 8 miles of that path was an absolute disgrace that if was in charge of this city I would not tolerate for a second. I would fight every legal battle to return that River bed and it's adjacent areas to the condition it was 20 years ago. You do not have a right to set up residence in a public area. What I saw will cost tax payers Billions of Dollars in environmental cleanup. And yes, here is LA this is a problem too. Overall it was a Great day in Bakersfield--I can tell some of the best people in California live here.

I had some time inbetween meetings while in downtown Bakersfield and wanted some fresh air under a…read moreshaded tree, so I pulled up to Jastro Park and took some time to enjoy this nice public space. It was great to see it a buzz with a large family gathering bumping good tunes, individuals escaping the heat in a similar fashion to myself, and folks taking pictures. It's cool to see the city continue to invest into this park with the pickle ball courts and upgrades being done for the pavilion. I need to come back to get some time on those pickle ball courts!

Jastro Park. Not just a place for a picnic, to play tennis, or to play on the swing set. It is also…read morea place for remembrance. This park has both the WWII Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. As the day nears for Memorial Day, the last Monday of May, that is what we should all do. Remember. Remember those that fought and died for us so we can live free and sleep in our beds peacefully at night. Whether you have a relative or friend who died in a war, or died serving in our nation's military, or you don't. Every American has the obligation to remember those who died. It is only because of their ultimate sacrifice that we, as Americans, have the freedoms we have today. So, when you go visit Jastro Park, or just drive by, remember our men and women who died for us. The park is a beautiful place to visit. It has multiple apparatuses for the kiddies. A lot of BBQ areas, ample seating and picnic benches, tennis courts and the Memorials. Go. Visit. Enjoy. Remember.