Today, more than ever, we seem to admire the beauty, serenity, and affordable recreational play that is offered by our local, regional, and national parks. Why pay for a trip overseas when a natural oasis and lifelong experience are within hours or minutes of home?

In Fontana, residents take to the local parks to play games, enjoy an evening in the fresh air, or discover a little more about their community.

The friendly climate we enjoy here in Fontana translates to yearlong outdoor excitement for residents. The city has a little over 40 parks and nearly all are complete with a shelter and table if not a playground area, sports recreational area, or neighborhood center. In short, there are roughly 10 neighborhood parks and at least one neighborhood center in each area of the city and within a convenient commute by car or foot to most neighborhoods. While the fun and sport usually happen around the neighborhood centers, there is still plenty of walking and nature loving to do in other areas as well.

State Parks

As we all know there are plenty of state parks from which to choose. A recent Artists in Nature field trip sponsored by the Nature Center and Art Depot was to none other than Mt. Baldy for hiking, nature discussions, and of course creative creations by the campers. Other nearby state sites include Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park, Mojave Narrows Regional Park, Silver Lake, Lake Perris, Mount San Jacinto, California Citrus, and Chino Hills. A list of state parks broken down by region is available online at www.parks.ca.gov.

National Parks

America has an affinity with our national parks. Thanks to conversationalists like Theodore Roosevelt many of our most beautiful areas have been preserved through national park designations and are enjoyed by families and nature lovers year round.

If you are still considering a summer trip, now is the time to hit the road and head for the parks. Nearby national parks include King Canyon, Sequoia, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree. A listing of locations, national recreation sites, and more are available online at www.nps.gov.

Visit now, visit often

Make sure to visit these parks often. For almost a year the state has considered cuts to funding some of our state parks to help curb costs. There is no predicting what is available today will be here tomorrow. Locally, our parks are open during daylight hours.

Future Local Recreational Sites

By now, most Fontana residents are familiar with the 38 acre Fontana Park that is almost complete at Summit Avenue and Lytle Creek. The fantastic park offers more amenities than most regional sites and will easily become a favorite destination spot for many.

Fontana Park offers a new 25,000 square foot skate park which will be fully managed to provide safest skating experience one can imagine. The area will also be home of Fontana’s first dog park where Fido or Fifi can run, jump, and sniff all day. Bring the skates or basketball for the multi-purpose pavilion which is open for roller hockey and basketball. There are also open play areas for fitness, picnics, or exploration. The additional 43,000 square-foot Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Center will be a huge hit featuring classes in fencing, martial arts, dance, recreational classes, and more. The neighboring Aquatic Center will be open year round and feature two water slides, a zero-depth splash park, a 14-lane competition pool, and a shallow recreation pool.

Fontana Park opens on October 25 but is not the only park receiving attention right now. The newly opened Coyote Canyon Park, located at 5051 Duncan Canyon Road, which has become home for Adult Sports Slow-Pitch Softball has received a new park shade structure. The Village Park snack bar and restroom facility located at 15601 Village Drive has been renovated. The playground set has also been replaced. Fernandez Park, a newly designated location thanks to the generous donation from the Fernandez family and located at 18006 Summit Avenue will be completed with a rose garden monument, playground and picnic tables will open in March 2009.

The City of Fontana has been busy bringing the best in affordable recreational amenities to residents. Please enjoy the rest of the summer with family or friends at any number of our parks or special events.