Parks and Recreation, Napa Vally Naturals

Families with Napa Valley homes won’t have to travel far to enjoy a park and its recreational opportunities. Most communities have neighborhood parks with lots of amenities to put more fun into family life any day of the week. But, for residents ready for adventure a short drive from their Napa Valley home, there are many exciting and dramatic choices for weekend recreation.

Napa Community Parks

American Canyon, Napa’s newest community, thoughtfully set aside abundant open space in keeping with the county’s environmental philosophy. American Canyon’s Community Park offers a sports field, horseshoe pits, swimming, a playground and a picnic area.

Calistoga has three community parks with picnic grounds, playgrounds, sports fields, community buildings, a tennis court and volleyball court– at Monhoff Center – and lots of easy access to family recreation, close to home.

The city of Napa is resplendent with parks, big and small. Some have jogging trails and access to recreation on the Napa River. Other parks offer the traditional playground and sports facilities, along with picnicking areas. There is even a special “Doggy Park” where pooches run free and socialize with each other. But families living in Napa homes have a special park that distinguishes the town – Playground Fantastico.

The 12,000 square foot playground was designed with the input of Napa’s children who told the world famous playground architectural firm of Leathers & Associates what they wanted in a city park. Then, thousands of Napa home owners and their children pitched in to physically build an artful and imaginative playground over the course of six intense days. The design brings out “open-ended creative play” and promotes physical fitness. There is also plenty of public art and new features for the entire family to enjoy.

Portal to State Parks
St. Helena is home to community parks with playgrounds and amenities such as horseshoe pits, sports facilities and picnic grounds. St. Helena home owners and their families can also enjoy the historical experience at Bale Grist Mill State Park. Built in 1846, it’s a picture of how families once crushed the grains to bake their daily bread – with lots of human effort behind a 36-foot water wheel. There is also a pioneer cemetery and the site of Napa’s first church.

The State Park is also the portal to a hiking adventure. There is a historic two-mile trail that leads to St. Helena’s Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Along the way there are side trips and picnic facilities amid Redwood trees, along bubbling creeks and past beautiful woodland ferns. In the spring and summer reservations can be made to take a horseback ride along the meandering trails.
Napa’s Second Nature
It’s only natural that Napa Valley home owners should have abundant access to parks and recreation. Residents have expressed their regard for open space and agricultural lands by setting aside thousands of acres that preserve the true rural nature of Napa County.