Style Magazine - April 2021
Before becoming a parent, I never truly valued or took full advantage of our region’s public parks. Sure, I visited them for the occasional picnic, jog, or game of tennis, and knew they brought natural beauty into neighborhoods, but never realized just how crucial they are to a community. Now, as the mom to a tantrum-prone toddler, parks—playgrounds, in particular—are a daily destination for us. Give my daughter a sandbox, swing set, and an open field to frolic in, and her attitude instantly improves. In addition to providing hours of free, fresh-air amusement, they’ve also proven to be a primo place to meet fellow mom friends. (If you’ve never watched “Dear Cool-Looking Mom in the Park” on YouTube and feel like laughing, check it out. It pretty much sums up my attempt at having a social life these days.) Lucky for us, our region is overflowing with parks (hundreds, in fact, with even more in the works) waiting to be explored. Turn to “Walk in the Park” on page 22 for 10 of our favorites—picked for their abundance of amenities, environmental components, stunning scenery, or all the above. Next time you find yourself in a funk, the solution might be as simple as going for a stroll in one of these gorgeous green spaces. Readers looking for other outdoor diversions are in luck. There’s plenty more ideas in the pages that follow—from our feature, “Choose Your Own Adventure” (page 59) that’s jam-packed with alfresco activities like chasing waterfalls, nerding out on birds, and discovering local downtown districts; to “Nurture Nature” (page 26), where we talk about the importance of Earth Day and easy ways to lessen your environmental impact today, and every day; and “Home Grown” (page 44) featuring nine secrets to garden success this spring. If you’ve never considered yourself “green” or “outdoorsy,” I hope this issue inspires you to think differently, act accordingly, and play outside whenever, however you can. Because, if you’re anything like me, even 10 minutes of fresh air will make a monumental difference in your day. Cheers! —Megan megan@stylemg.com @meggoeggowaffle
Before becoming a parent, I never truly valued or took full advantage of our region’s public parks. Sure, I visited them for the occasional picnic, jog, or game of tennis, and knew they brought natural beauty into neighborhoods, but never realized just how crucial they are to a community.
Now, as the mom to a tantrum-prone toddler, parks—playgrounds, in particular—are a daily destination for us. Give my daughter a sandbox, swing set, and an open field to frolic in, and her attitude instantly improves. In addition to providing hours of free, fresh-air amusement, they’ve also proven to be a primo place to meet fellow mom friends. (If you’ve never watched “Dear Cool-Looking Mom in the Park” on YouTube and feel like laughing, check it out. It pretty much sums up my attempt at having a social life these days.)
Lucky for us, our region is overflowing with parks (hundreds, in fact, with even more in the works) waiting to be explored. Turn to “Walk in the Park” on page 22 for 10 of our favorites—picked for their abundance of amenities, environmental components, stunning scenery, or all the above. Next time you find yourself in a funk, the solution might be as simple as going for a stroll in one of these gorgeous green spaces.
Readers looking for other outdoor diversions are in luck. There’s plenty more ideas in the pages that follow—from our feature, “Choose Your Own Adventure” (page 59) that’s jam-packed with alfresco activities like chasing waterfalls, nerding out on birds, and discovering local downtown districts; to “Nurture Nature” (page 26), where we talk about the importance of Earth Day and easy ways to lessen your environmental impact today, and every day; and “Home Grown” (page 44) featuring nine secrets to garden success this spring.
If you’ve never considered yourself “green” or “outdoorsy,” I hope this issue inspires you to think differently, act accordingly, and play outside whenever, however you can. Because, if you’re anything like me, even 10 minutes of fresh air will make a monumental difference in your day. Cheers!
—Megan
megan@stylemg.com
@meggoeggowaffle
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The<br />
10<br />
Spot<br />
WALK IN<br />
THE<br />
PARK<br />
10 Primo<br />
Places to<br />
Play<br />
by EMILY PETER-COREY<br />
The sun is<br />
out, the<br />
sky is blue,<br />
and Mother<br />
Nature is<br />
waiting for<br />
you! We’ve<br />
rounded up<br />
our region’s<br />
top parks<br />
for an easy,<br />
entertaining,<br />
and funfilled<br />
family<br />
outing.<br />
Boulder Ridge Park<br />
Econome Park<br />
Governor Park<br />
Lions Park<br />
Boulder Ridge Park doesn’t only<br />
have all the amenities of a perfect<br />
park, but it has incredible views<br />
of the Sierras, Mt. Diablo, the<br />
Sutter Buttes, and Downtown<br />
Sacramento, too. The covered<br />
picnic area along with tables<br />
and barbecues makes it a great<br />
spot for gatherings, and the<br />
playgrounds offer activities for<br />
preschool-aged and school-aged<br />
children. With a horseshoe pit<br />
and basketball court, there’s an<br />
activity for everyone.<br />
3545 Park Drive, Rocklin<br />
Named after brothers George and<br />
Nick Econome and their respective<br />
wives, Marilyn and Ann, Folsom’s<br />
Econome Park is full of state-ofthe-art<br />
designs and environmental<br />
components. Included at the<br />
park are bocce ball courts, tennis<br />
courts, multi-use natural and<br />
synthetic grass, play areas, and a<br />
half-mile walking perimeter that<br />
provides access to The Parkway<br />
trail system. There are also<br />
restrooms and a pavilion available,<br />
making it an ideal locale for an<br />
outdoor get-together.<br />
1900 Parkway Drive North, Folsom<br />
Just under two acres, Governor<br />
Park is an established staple in<br />
El Dorado Hills and features two<br />
ponds, picnic tables, and benches.<br />
The peaceful park offers plenty of<br />
space to walk around and watch<br />
the locals (ducks and geese) as<br />
well as catch-and-release fishing.<br />
Be sure to plan a visit soon, as the<br />
green grass makes for a pictureperfect<br />
setting. Ample street<br />
parking is also available.<br />
905 Governor Drive, El Dorado Hills<br />
The expansive 24 acres at<br />
Lions Park offers something<br />
for everyone. Included are<br />
softball fields, tennis courts,<br />
play structures, picnic facilities,<br />
horseshoe pits, an 18-hole<br />
disc golf course, turf areas,<br />
and plenty of walking trails.<br />
The park is nestled in the hills<br />
Boulder Ridge Park-photo by Ryan Waddell. Econome Park photo courtesy of Folsom Parks and Recreation. Governor Park photo courtesy of El Dorado Hills CSD. Lions Park photo by Erika Wilson.<br />
22 stylemg.com | APRIL <strong>2021</strong> | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags
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