Memorial Park / San Ramon and Danville Area Parks
Summer is in full swing and that means it's time to hit the parks. The San Ramon/Danville area has absolutely fantastic parks to take advantage of. With average summ
er temperatures around here in the high 80s, most of the parks also have water features to cool the kiddos down. A few parks even have newly updated play structures.
I have two children: ages 6 and 2 so I have lots of experience with Danville parks and San Ramon parks. In the coming weeks I will lay out the low-down on the best this great area has to offer.
Memorial Park in San Ramon
Perched atop a hill at the intersection of Bollinger Canyon Road and San Ramon Valley Boulevard, Memorial Park was dedicated on September 11, 2002. According to Wikipedia it was originally to be named Alta Mesa Park but during its construction the city changed the name to honor the heros and victims of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. Most notable among these is Tom Burnett, a San Ramon resident who perished on Flight 93 and was one of the integral group who thwarted that flight's intended attack. Memorial plaques honoring Burnett and other local residents who have passed adorn the base of the flagpole monument as well as the bases of a few young redwood trees planted in their honor.
Memorial Park's amenities and view live up to the park's notable reputation. The playground is a plethora of monkey bar, zip line and sliding fun for older kids as well as a smaller climb, crawl and slide structure for the younger set. The two areas are nicely spaced but close enough for parents to watch the whole brood. There is also a spacious enclosed sand play area with plenty of bench seating.
There is a neatly manicured baseball field bordered by a sandy walking/running trail. There are also horseshoe pits and a bocce ball court, two ample BBQs and 3 picnic tables (if those are taken, there is ample grass space to picnic too).
Two other added features make this a unique park. One is the popular dog run which is up the hill from the main park as well as a hilly BMX bike track near the dog run, equally as popular. After my young kids are through playing it's fun to go watch the big kids defy gravity!
Perhaps the most attractive and all-encompassing feature of Memorial Park is the sensation of rising above the noise and chaos of the streets below. The clear view of Mount Diablo and the surrounding mountains in the distance imparts serenity and peace - fitting for a park whose very name reminds us all of how precious and fragile life really is.
For more information on San Ramon parks click here.
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