I lived in Cincinnati as a kid years ago and thing I remember most was watching fireworks from the serpentine wall. I'm so glad to see that it's still here and the park has even more to offer. There were lots of people walking, jogging, and playing pickleball. The views of the skyline are awesome. read more

Bicentennial Commons-Sawyer Point - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Nice walking around in the summer and hearing music. Is along Ohio River. Few people out today. Montgomery Inn nearby. read more

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Centennial Park / Sawyer Point is a beautiful walk in the park. It's for everyone----Couples, families, friends, gatherings, and more. There's so much to do, like play tennis, frisbee, walk, run, bike, picnic, chill, hang with friends, hang with pets, get some alone time...you name it! Check out earth day, see a concert or a flower show, the list goes on, and, all while walking along the Ohio River! It's exceptional!! read more

Bicentennial Commons-Sawyer Point - A walk in the park. The view from the park to the Great American building. - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Winged, golden pigs adorn the steamboat stack shaped columns atop the unusual fountain in this beautiful riverfront park in Cincinnati. The fountain includes a working scale model of the Ohio River, and the park pays tribute to the mighty waterway along which it runs. I made this a regular haunt when I lived in Cincy, as it was just a few blocks from my loft and offered stunning river and skyline views, acres of grassy lawn, beatiful trees, and a wonderful set of serpentine terraces leading right down into the waters of the mighty Ohio. Factoid: Some geographers say that the river that flows into the Gulf of Mexico past New Orleans should rightly be called the Ohio, since the Ohio portion of the river is larger than the Mississippi above the point where they join at Cairo, Illinois. Regardless, this beautiful park sports a wonderful kids playground next to a towering fountain that everyone likes to play in, and a futuristic band shell. There's also a massive golden statue of Cincinnatus, Rome's dictator who gave up ultimate power and returned to farming, becoming a model for George Washington. Cincinnatus in turn inspired the name of a group of Revolutionary War officers who then tried to turn their back on history and foist a plutocracy on our nascent republic, until they were shamed into good behavior by G.W. Before it was Cincinnati, the town was called Losantiville and, popularly, Porkopolis for the packing industry that thrived here, and which later inspired the whimsical winged pig that now adorns the columns of my favorite fountain--much to the chagrin of the city's hoitier types. read more

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Great playground, great walking, you can rent these huge bikes that fit your whole family, there's great sand volleyball courts that end up being a giant sandbox for the kids. We were from out of town and this park was awesome. Also head east across the parking lot and check out the international sculture park. It's really worth it. read more

Bicentennial Commons-Sawyer Point - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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ミューックコンサート、BBQ大会、フラワーフェスティバル等、様々なイベントの会場。春の花咲く季節は素晴らしい。駐車場もあり、ニューポートまで散歩も可能。 Consert, Flower fest, this park has various events. lots of parking lots. you can enjoy walking and running! I recommend spring season, it has many flowers! read more

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Whenever we eat at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse we always take a nice stroll to Sawyer Point. The park is well maintained and only crowded during concerts or reds opening day. The serpentine steps have an unparalleled view of the river and Northern Kentucky. The steps are a nice area to soak up some sun and read a nice book or newspaper. The bathrooms are sometimes unpredictably closed so plan ahead. I have never been to the skating rink but I have heard good things and the playground looks nice for kids. read more

I love this park!!! Yeatman's Cove Park is considered Sawer's Point, which opened in 1976 . It is located between Central Bridge and the Skyline Arches underneath L&N Bridge, it is a popular spot for concerts, picnics, festivals, and river watching. Other features of this park are the Fitness Area, Playground, volleyball courts, the Lindner Tennis Complex, the all-weather skating rink, fishing pier, and Schott Ampitheater. My favorite is the The Serpentine Wall, a massive, contoured concrete wall of steps along the riverfront. The architecture is amazing and great for photography. I've trained on these steps before running the flying pig marathon. Sawyer Point features the famous Flying Pig Sculptures, the Bicentennial Brick Promenade, a 12-foot statue of Cincinnatus (the Roman soldier and farmer for which Cincinnati was named), and the P&G Pavillion which is used regularly for concerts and performances. Great place to walk your pets! Last, WEBN also uses this area for display of fireworks. A great addition to Cincinnati and one of my most favorite parks in the city. read more

A family-friendly park where you can walk by the river. Downtown views and river views. It's a perfect place to take our-of-town guests/tourists. I would know. I'm one of them. read more

Love this park! This place is great for young kids, different sized playgrounds with good guard rails and cushy floors for toddler falls. We love coming down for the walks and views of the river and city. Be sure to drive east of Montgomery inn for a free parking lot. read more

The OG downtown Cincinnati riverfront park, Sawyer Point pretty spectacular. First of all, it's massive, so there's plenty of large expanses of green space that a lot of the other downtown parks lack which is probably why it's the go to for concerts, events, and walks for the city. The Purple People Bridge's Ohio side ends in the middle of the park, so its easy to take a quick stroll across the bridge to Newport as well. My favorite parts of Sawyer Point? The serpentine steps. As far as a peaceful place to sit outside, watch the river go by and read a good book... it's unparalleled. There's a splash pad / fountain in front of One Lytle Place as well that's easy to miss but a blast in the summer. Wednesdays during the summer, there's a great concert series in the park and there are other events throughout the year that never disappoint. The Every Child's playground in Sawyer Point is unique in its inclusive, accessible design. There's a really cool geologic timeline walk along the river on the east side of the bridge that is permeated by pretty great river overlooks. Sawyer Point does occasionally flood, but even then, it cool to visit to see the river overflow its banks. read more

My family and I came here for the first time this weekend, and I was astonished at what a lovely park this is. It's remarkable how they've taken formally-functional aspects of the city, like great big tunnels and railroad tracks, and transformed them into gorgeous architectural attractions. We came for a 5K walk, and I was surprised at how easily accessible the pedestrian-only Purple People Bridge (unfortunate name) was. It's nice that you can walk from downtown over the bridge to Newport for a movie or to the aquarium, and then back for an ice cream at Fountain Square. The park is clean, nicely laid out, and there are great views of the river and the skyline. My son's favorite part was the geological timeline walk. We'll definitely be back to explore more thoroughly. read more

This park has it all. I love coming down here with my family, but it's just as good for singles or dating couples. You might not have some of the panoramic views like you do with other parks in the city, but the walks down by the river are fantastic. Of course, they open this park up often for concerts and "party in the park", but I love taking the kids here. Lots of fun places to play - from playgrounds, to open fields, to the sand on the volleyball courts. My kids are always so excited to get to come here! One of the only things I don't like is the noise from the highway overhead, but it's really only noticeable when you are right under the bridge, and the view of the yellow Big Mac bridge is almost pretty enough to not even mention it. There is a paid parking lot, but keep traveling east past Montgomery Inn and you'll find free parking. Love the location. Love the park. Excited for when the park will extend all the way to the Banks! read more

If you participate in local races chances are one will bring you to this park. There is a dedicated parking lot for this park (if you are willing to pay) otherwise street parking is generally not too far away at least on weekend mornings. The park is very green and well maintained. The paths are paved and maintained well (not too many cracks). I particularly enjoy the path that is a timeline of life on earth (chronicles early cells, plants, animals etc)- it makes for a nice distraction as you walk along the path. There is plenty of space for vendors during events and the park stays a bit busy. As far as parks go in Cincinnati, this is definitely one to visit! read more

My favorite place in all of Cincinnati. I dedicate a forth of my active day here almost everyday. Speaking of that I am writing this review sitting on the serpentine wall. The office is down the street so lunch here is a go to frequently if the weather permits. I have been going here since I was kid growing up and to see how it is today compared to yester years is a night and day difference. The park much cleaner and not as scary to go to after dark. The tennis courts have been renovated and they added a whole new section Bicentennial Commons. The extension really added to it furthermore the just completed the walk way connection Smale Park by the stadiums. If you are downtown and want to trek along the bank you now have a 3 mile paved route. All of my runs no matter where I am going always starts and ends at Sawyer. The paths are always lighted and the parking lot next to Montgomery Inn is always free, but on game days it might be a struggle to find a spot;so you might want to time it. Sawyer has turned into Cincinnati's universal concert/music festival venue. All through out the year Sawyer plays host to JazzFest, Bunburry, and many other activities. I did not remember this happening at all growing up. The layout is perfect for a music festival there can be multiple stages playing once and not have any other lap but at the same time you don't have to walk too far to find the next set. PS: Every Wednesday in the Spring/Summer is Party in the Park read more

Bicentennial Commons-Sawyer Point - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Very nice area at the RIverfront. Lots of events throughout the year. The newly planted cherry trees were so beautiful in April/May. The serpentine wall is good for a workout and for a snack break :) read more

Bicentennial Commons-Sawyer Point - Winter in full swing - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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As a seasonal bike rider, one of my favorite activities is to take the Purple People Bridge from Newport over to Sawyer Point and peddle til my heart's content. There are plenty of paths, shade, and interesting placards and landscaping along the way. My ride usually begins by following the old streetcar tracks through the park, then heading over to International Friendship Park. http://www.yelp.com/biz/theodore-m-berry-international-friendship-park-cincinnati#hrid:Oq4XHtjDn2BtRycQaE4SfQ On the return, I peddle past the historic Water Works building (the "castle" on the riverfront) and follow the timeline of earth's creation. Yes, a path actually maps out trillions of years ago with engravings of species originating and a few sentences of detail. Present Day leads right up beneath the Purple People Bridge beside the old railroad tunnels. I also like reading the historical placards throughout the park, such as about the Black Brigade during the Civil War, Cincinnati's German History, and Ohio's oldest Water Works. There is a skating rink on the far east end of the park, next to Montgomery Inn. A tent is set up in half of the rink during the summer concerts, but it's big enough to still glide around on the empty portion of concrete. Great for those who own their own quad skates. In addition, there are huge tennis courts, volleyball courts, playgrounds, beautiful fountains, and a bike rental shop. Bicentennial Commons has a little bit of everything for anybody. In fact, I showed my European friends this park during their visit. Combined with a bridge walk, it was a must-see on our list. There are three amphitheaters at Sawyer Point which host a variety of events during the summer. Plenty of space and great sound quality, plus most events attract a plethora of vendors. If attending an event, parking will be tricky. The entrance to the lot is hard to find, plus all the masses will be exiting through one gate. Neighboring lots often charge $8 - $20 to park, especially if there is a Reds game. As I mentioned, I prefer to bike over from Newport, so parking there and walking the Purple People Bridge may be your best option for Sawyer Point festivities. read more

With tennis courts, playgrounds, an amphitheater, and a great event space for festivities like Brew-Ha-Ha, this park provides several great amenities. It's right next to the purple people bridge, so runners and bicyclists are very familiar with the space. If this is your first visit here, be sure to walk on the riverside--the evolutionary timeline on the sidewalk there is pretty cool. The 471 bridge overhead is kind of noisy, and Sawyer point doesn't have the nice landscaping of the park to the east (Friendship Park) or the awesome river view of the park to the west (Yeatmans Cove). Otherwise, I'm really thankful Cincinnati has this park-space. EDIT: I had intended to review Yeatmans Cove separately, but by definition it must be part of Sawyer Point. This part of the park is my favorite and easily deserves 5 stars. The serpentine wall offers a fantastic view of the river that is even more interesting when the water is near flood stage. There are wide open grassy areas, lots of shade, and a water playground that's open in the summer. This park is super dog friendly with lots of bag dispensers and water fountains with dog bowl attachments. And summer events like Party in the Park and Party on the River can't be missed. read more

Was just there on a 60 degree day, Reds opening day weekend. They were happy to collect the $5 parking fee from 100 plus cars but not happy enough to open the still winterized bathrooms. Even the indoor restroom at the skating rink was off limits. Dozens of children plus adults with no place to relieve themselves. We would've skipped the trip and went straight home rather than pay $5 for 30 minutes of playtime until my kid had to go. PS. The bathrooms were closed when I stopped by last August too. read more

I thought I knew what Sawyer Point was when I went to Cincinnati Brew-Ha-Ha last year: an amphitheater and a large common lawn. Oh, how naive I was! I went for a destination-less bike ride with a friend, hitting the Ohio River and turning ride to the bike path. We biked under the "Big Mac" Bridge where I saw a playground and thought about how I'd never known that was there before. We continued on and biked past tennis courts, volleyball courts, bathrooms, vending machines, locker rooms... and I was really in awe and confused! So, apparently Sawyer Point is far more expansive and awesome than I'd originally thought! There really is a lot to do there: sports, laying in the sun (weather permitting), enjoying the fountain, the views of the Ohio, biking or walking along the paths, and getting involved with any of the multitude of events that happen there throughout the year. The reason why Sawyer Point loses a star is because I know I'm not the only one who is unaware of the many things there are to do along the river. If only they tried a little harder to promote themselves, maybe I'd have been able to go there sooner! And, even now, I don't really know much of their events. I feel like parks in major cities in the US basically slap you in the face with amazingness... while Sawyer Point needs you to find something in it that's worth checking out. read more

As others have written, this is a great park and the perfect place to experience downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River. On one of our fist visits, my son and I walked over the Purple People Bridge and enjoyed the views and the historic markers along the way that provided info on the history and heritage of the area. Already knowing about the German immigrants, we were surprised to find out how many Irish people also settled in the area. Anyway, on other occasions I've walked by the serpentine wall for exercise or just to stroll and people-watch. I like the flying pigs statues, as well as the colorful flags. read more

I've only been here once outside of 3 Bunbury festivals so I can't judge it all on its own. But things I can tell are it's very big and has various large sections that feel like separate parks. There's a very large snake-like flood wall facing the river with built-in spacious big seating in rows. Flat level at bottom allows for great concerts with river view. Would be a peaceful picnic spot or remote workspace. Would not be surprised if electric nearby in a bind. There's history in this park too with some overlook I've been on with fact posts. Very large grass fields for dogs or frisbee, reading etc. Great location for all the events held here. read more

Sawyer Point is one of my favorite parks in this fine city. It contains a long stretch of land that is a giant park and public commons. The entrance has flying pigs on sticks and a stick inside another stick marks where the highest flood waters rose to. Inside the park you'll find a neato amphitheater, lots of concrete trails and walkways, the serpentine wall, a cool pool fountain thing, a neat playground, lots of volleyball and tennis courts. There are also several pretty river overlooks. There are many events held at Sawyer Point. The most famous of which is the WEBN Fireworks. If you come to the Ohio side of things, chances are you'll start here to try to get a good view. Also Party in the Park is held here as well as the traditional Tall Stacks event. Tall Stacks really is a lot of fun. It's also fun to come here on a peaceful day for a walk or for a bike ride. The bike trail leads from it's new park just east of here into Sawyer Point. read more

Sawyer Point is one of the better known parks in Cincinnati. It doesn't have the extravagance of Ault Park, or the adventure of Mt. Airy Forest, but it has its own place in Cincinnati as the riverfront park that offers a large gathering spot. The park has a large amphitheater with lawn seating. I have never been there for an actual event, but it is a great place to explore. Sawyer Point is located right next to the Purple People Bridge (an all pedestrian bridge that was painted purple recently) but doesn't have a lot of attractions immediately next to it. Hopefully some more programming will occur. There is supposed to be a large music festival called "Bunbury" this summer, so we will see what comes of that. read more

Sawyer Point is really cool. I love visiting and hanging out on the Serpentine Wall. The wall is a long, winding series of high steps used for seating when this particular area of the park is used for festivals. If you walk East of the wall you go through a couple of gigantic, brick archways towards a gigantic statue of Cincinnatus, I have fond memories of climbing over his feet when I was really young. The most talked about event at the park is Party-in-the-Park. I went a couple of times but it was rather unpleasant. I just don't mesh well with the heavy drinking business crowds that end up there, nothing to talk about I suppose. The Earth Day celebrations have always been wonderful and the commons is a great place to throw some frisbee. If you go make sure to cut up to the Purple People Bridge and check out the sweet, city views from the river. read more

Sawyer Point is a great park sitting on the bank of the Ohio River. The park is very open and adorned with Flying Pigs and the like. There are always events taking place in the park, whether it be party in the park or the WEBN FIreworks, it's a busy place. There is a very cool, tucked away water park/fountain that I loved visiting as a kid. The serpentine wall is very serene and a nice place to relax on a lazy day. I have so many memories in the park and can't wait to make more. read more

This park is gorgeous! It doesn't matter if you're biking or walking/running or out for a picnic-this place is great! It's super clean and everyone around seems super friendly! We took our bikes out a few weeks ago and the ride was perfect!! It wasn't crowded by any means even though there were alot of people taking advantage of the nice weather! This is a wonderful place to spend the afternoon and the walking bridge to Newport is literally right there so its an easy walk to grab dinner! We will definitely be taking many trip here this summer!!! :) read more

Who truly needs to review Bicentennial Commons-Sawyer Point? This is an absolutely terrific place when you need to balance being outdoors and being close to urbanity. I love coming here to take a walk, clear my mind, watch dogs play and barges float by. While it isn't Grant Park in Chicago (Yeah, I'm a tad biased) it truly is a great front yard for Cincinnati. read more

Bicentennial Commons-Sawyer Point - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The Cincinnati tri-state area is blessed with a number of beautiful parks. There are a number of places where you can go to get away from the hustle-and-bustle of the city itself and its (very busy) surrounding township. However, there aren't too many parks in actual downtown Cincinnati that can be enjoyed. Thankfully there's Sawyer Point. Had a hard time finding history about this park located right on Cincinnati's river front. I can tell you the park is made up of various sections that can be enjoyed separately or all together. Starting west and heading east, you begin at Yeatman's Cove Park. This part of Sawyer point is broken up into three parts. The Serpentine Wall, consisting of a series of large concrete steps, leads right down into the river. A great place to sit and watch the river or various events that might happen to be taking place. On the very outer edge of the wall there's a launch were you can....launch your own boats or ride on one of those Duck Rides. North of the Wall is a large grassy area that is just perfect for a picnic, or sunbathing, or throwing a ball or Frisbee around with friends (be careful you don't hit anybody). And right above there is my favorite part of Sawyer Point, the Spray Ground. It used to be an actual fountain with water that at its deepest, came up to your calves, and over a dozen of different sprays that kids (and let's face it us adults too) could run around and frolic in. However last summer the city slapped covered up the fountain part but kept the sprays. So you can still run around in it, and it's the perfect place to do so when you're downtown and want to cool off. Plus the kids love it! As you keep heading east you'll go under the Purple People Bridge and come to the giant statue of Cincinnatus. I'm not exactly sure who this guy is to be honest. All I know is he apparently was some kind of Roman soldier and farmer...and some mid-west American city is named after him. I don't know which one though. Probably should look that up. Passing the statue you can stay along the sidewalk closest to the river where you can read a timeline of the planet's geology by some guy...or you can do what everyone else does and head over to the massive lawn that plays host to the large Proctor & Gamble Performance Pavilion. This open-air pavilion plays hosts to numerous events throughout the year and the lawn is a great place to relax and take in the show. Continuing on you'll find my second-favorite part of Sawyer Point. And that would be the massive playground area that's located directly beneath the Big Mac Bridge. With a large, castle-shaped play area, kids can literally spend hours running around here. I know mine have, and I was right there running around with them. Lots of fun. As you keep going you'll run into some sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, and even a skating rink. Although to be quite honest I don't know how often that's used as most skating takes place in Fountain Square during the winter. There's also a smaller amphitheater which incorporates the ruins from the old Cincinnati Public Works buildings. And there edge of the river is dotted with numerous overlooks in case you want to stop and admire the Ohio River, which honestly, why would you want to? Have you seen that river? Disgusting. A large number of events take place on Sawyer Point all year long, although most are in the spring and summer. I'll take the family to some of them, but honestly, we prefer to go for no special reason or event. We just love play area, spray ground and the chance to get the kids out of the house and walking in some fresh area and a relatively safe area of downtown. The only real downside is parking...which can be a pain and at $2 is just irritating. And because it's a public park, and it's downtown, chances are you might end up running into some of the less desirable elements of Cincinnati, which can make your visit a bit awkward or uncomfortable. But all-in-all, it's a great place and I love bringing the wife and kiddies. Mahalo, and enjoy. read more

I'm writing about the Riverwalk which techniclly starts at the Public Landing, but I parked(for free!) at Bicentennial Commons. I got the idea for this walk from the Walking the Steps of Cincinnati guidebook. As an aside, the book is a pretty good starting point, but the maps are so-so. Luckily, a map is unneccessary, as the walk is marked with blue and green river graphiced tiles throughout your journey. As previously mention the walk begins at the Public Landing with some climbing to reach the Central Bridge. Central Bridge provides great views of the Roebling Bridge and the Cincinnati skyline. There's also some intriguing genitalia related graffiti. Once you cross the bridge, you wander along the Levee where you can enjoy more scenic views of the skyline, ducklings swimming in the Ohio, and interpretive signs regarding the establishment of the Riverwalk. A small bridge which I don't know the name of takes you across the Licking River. You continue following the blue and green tiles through historic Newport which is gobsmackingly beautiful, especially at sunset. The apogee of the walk takes you across the Roebling bridge, built in 1867 and a model for the Brooklyn Bridge. It is an amazing feat of engineering. This walk will make you think Cincinnati is a real city and provide some great photo ops as well. I may do it at sunrise some day as I expect it'd be just as beautiful. read more

We came here for a second time after the park was closed last year for some sort of renovation at the time. It was a really unusually warm day for winter and I was glad when I saw the park open again. Then we walked our way thru the park to the playground that it completely fenced up what a bummer because it is a awesome playground. I think it is closed b/c of falling debris from the highway but this is completely unacceptable because the same playground was closed all year last year. They should move it somewhere else this is a pretty big park. I would have been very angry had i paid to park luckily I got a free spot on the street. read more

Visited this park twice for 2 different events. One was Brew HaHa and the other was for the WEBN fireworks. This place is pretty cool although I've never been when it's just a park without an event. The stairs at the waters edge are a very unique feature to this park. read more

Excellent festival venue and overall fun place to be. We love walking by the river. The new fountains and landscaping are beautiful. The labyrinth is a fun feature and you can't miss the bench swings. read more

A historic treasure. The serpentine wall, the cool trails for walking or just sight seeing. The view of the river - it's all just so beautiful and pleasant. read more

I love this whole park and spend a lot of time here. Love being able to run along the river and over into Newport for lunch across the purple people bridge. Plenty of water fountains, and well maintained premises along the trails and in the restrooms. read more

I'm probably biased since I basically live behind this park, but I love it. It's beautiful and makes for nice long walks or a run. There are plenty of grassy areas to play or picnic, as well as a nice set of tennis courts, volleyball courts, two impressive playground areas, and some outdoor stage areas. In the spring and summer you can rent bikes or some variation of bikes to ride around. Or sit on the serpentine wall and watch barges go by on the river. Apparently there was a roller rink at one point but it's now the location for the UC crew team's practices. You can also walk through the park and continue on to the Montgomery Inn Boathouse and Theodore Berry International Friendship park. The park is especially beautiful in the spring, as you can see many blooming trees and flowers. read more

When the river floods, this park is a great place to take dramatic pictures of the bridges and banks. And it's a hopping hot spot during the Labor Day fireworks, of course. read more

Sawyer Point is a park that sits directly on the Ohio River. The entrance to the park is easily found past Great American Ballpark, GameDay Caf, and the Montgomery Inn conference center. Many events are hosted in the park throughout the year (marathons, fundraisers, parties, etc.) but more often than not the park serves as a green space for those Cincinnatians who live directly in the city. Sawyer Point is dog-friendly and offers free bags for cleaning up after your favorite pooch. There are huge areas for tossing Frisbees or setting up Cornhole games and long paved walkways which are great for renting little Surrey contraptions that are available at the park on warm days. Parking is easy there is a lot right at the entrance to the park and if that one is full, check directly across the street. It's free to get in! Oh, and, just a tip...don't wander around alone after dark. There have been a few less than wonderful things that have happened to lone walkers! read more

beautiful park! I visited for the first time for Bunbury festival and I will have to make the trip down again to enjoy this gorgeous park!

This is an attractive park by the river and a good place to run especially if you live downtown. In the heat of the summer there are several water fountains to stay hydrated. Many people come out here to walk the dog or stroll around the displays. There are many 5K walks/runs in this area as well as events. A nice addition to the downtown area. read more