Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Heather's Corner: Oro Valley Treasures Await!

Oro Valley happens to be home of some of the most beautiful parks I've seen. These parks offer a wide variety of amenities to enjoy:  From a dog park to playgrounds, from trails to tennis courts, there is really something for everyone.

Although there are the more familiar town owned parks like James D. Kreigh Park, Canada Del Oro Riverfront Park, West Lambert Lane Park, Honey Bee Canyon Park, Naranja Park and Steam Pump Ranch, there are also smaller parks hidden throughout the town. These parks are certainly treasures to find, especially if you are looking for a new place to explore with your children, your fur babies, or just on your own.

Rancho Vistoso Parks:
  • Big Wash Park- playground equipment, wide open lawn. Located at Vistoso Village Drive/Big View Drive. 
  • Cortona Park- ramada for BBQ, wide open lawn. Located at N. Garlenda Way/W. Vinova Pass. 
  • Hohokam Park- dog park, playground equipment, tennis, volleyball, basketball courts, walking trails, Ramadas for BBQ, restroom facilities. It is located at 99 W. Desert Fairway Dr.
  • Monticello Park- playground equipment, basketball court, ramada for BBQ. Located at Barlassina Drive/Tierrma Way. 
  • Sommerset Canyon- playground equipment, ramada for BBQ, Located at 13100 N. Player Place Sunset Park- playground equipment, volleyball and basketball courts, picnic tables, BBQ, rolling grass hills, shade trees. Moore Road/Eagleview Drive. 
  • Torreno Park- smaller park with playground equipment and benches. Located Moore Rd to Tarzana, left of Bloomington Loop. 
  • Wildlife Ridge Park- (a personal favorite) playground equipment, baseball diamond, basketball and volleyball courts, ramada with BBQ, restroom facilities, rolling grass hills, shade! Located at 12250 N. Woodburne Ave. 
As always, the same rules apply at these parks including no children under 6 allowed without supervision, dogs must stay on leash unless otherwise indicated (dog parks), and clean up your own litter.

Click here or here to view  full list of park rule and locations.

Enjoy checking out these parks if you haven't done so already and let us know about any that we're missing!
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Heather Nenadovich has lived in Oro Valley a total of five years. She has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona. Her husband is Canadian so she is a hockey fan by default and so are her two very clever children. When not being a mommy, she enjoys hiking in Catalina State Park, hand building pottery, and gardening. Her favorite things about living in Oro Valley are the towns recognition of art and culture, their commitment to preserving nature and the Christmas parade. (Also anything from GMG Chinese Bistro.)

3 comments:

Richard Furash, MBA said...

agree that we have great parks, would be made even better with winter green grass. Our families deserve it, the kids should have it on their ballfields and soccer fields.

Richard Furash, MBA said...

Heather, thank you for sharing this. You mentioned a few parks I didn't know.

Richard Furash, MBA said...

It is a shame that Oro Valley's parks look their worst when Oro Valley is filled with winter visitors.