Beaver Creek Park

Beaver Creek Park is located off the Kenai Spur Highway. From Kenai, take the first left after Beaver Loop Road, at the top of the hill, just before the curve. Parking is a loop, and you will probably want to parallel park. There is a water fountain in the island at the center of the loop, a great place to stop to fill up water bottles while you are out and about. The road continues past the park to a neighborhood of private residences. If you are riding or walking on the Spur Highway bike trail, this is a nice stop for lunch or a rest.

There is a bathroom, though it is more of an out house but, hey, its something. There is also a covered picnic table and a solitary trash can. Don't forget the wobbly bench.

Again we see a Kenai favorite, the green play structures. Were these bought in bulk? I have to admit that the bubbles are futuristic and space agey, but I hope that a playground update is on the list for this park. There is a basketball court.

 Though the playground itself is small, there is a large open field, great for frisbee, football, and picnics. My son's soccer team met here a few times for practices. It was ideal.

 I have an artistic niece. She takes amazing pictures; "POS Paint"

Ah, graffiti. Or an attempt at it anyway. Apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way about the park. Is it the equipment or their can of spray paint they are commenting on?

The play ground is cushioned with sand. It works well. I don't recommend letting small children walk around public parks barefoot. She just wasn't having it. I only set her down to take pictures, honest.

 We explored the woods nearby. It looks like the surrounding area is being developed for something. I would love to see a campground go in here. It would be a great place for families who are on the peninsula for fishing season, near the boat launch and only 3 miles through Beaver Loop to get to the city docks.  All in all, the green space is what this park is all about. The City of Kenai could give it an update. This park could be a lot more popular if it wasn't so out of date.

Found some tiny flowers. They were pretty. I love Alaska.

Farnsworth Park

Farnsworth Park, Soldotna, Birch Lane

 The day we visited Farnsworth Park was very wet. It was pouring rain, actually. We met a friend and her two little boys at the park, where she had been waiting for over an hour for someone (anyone!) to show for a local mother's group playdate. Still, she was bright and cheerful and willing to stick it out a bit longer so our children could play together. Lover her! You will have to excuse the pictures, neither one of us wanted to get drenched.

 Farnsworth Park is a small community play ground. Don't let the initial view of the park fool you, it has a fair amount of green spaces for such a little park and one could easily have a family picnic or play a game of football while enjoying a sunny day at the park. Behind the play ground, to the right of the hill is a large open green space. Farnsworth park also has a covered pavilion for just this sort of event that can be reserved in advance in 4 hour time blocks, for a small fee. Though this park is small, it is fairly popular, so I advise reserving it if you can to avoid party crashers. There are 2 additional picnic tables around the perimeter of the park as well. We think the city should consider adding a fire pit or grill to the pavilion.




The park is located in a quiet neighborhood, not far from the Moose is Loose bakery, Key Bank and the Soldotna Wash N Dry. There is a church nearby that overlooks the park. There is parking for 10 or so vehicles, including handicapped parking. There IS a portapotty, that is well maintained (usually).

This park is recommended for children ages 2 and up. Children smaller than this will find little to accomodate their small size, though parents can easily lift children up into the rocking insect car-like toys for a short ride or help them crawl on or under the tiny rock wall tunnel.

There are 3 different slides at Farnsworth Park, including one extra long wavy slide that runs down the small hill. Children enjoy climbing the tiered steps up the hill and running up and down the paths.

The park boasts paved paths that circle around the play areas and large wood chip landing material under all equipment, which is wonderful if you are wearing sandals. I hate getting gravel in my sandals or finding it in my children's pockets on laundry day! There are oversized, plastic percussion instruments, and though they don't make a very good drumming sound, children will love to beat on them. A handful of benches dot the paved paths for weary park goers or parents that want to keep an eye on older kids without chasing them everywhere.

The only thing missing from this park are swings. Absolutely no swings.
 
One thing I would caution parents on is the wooded areas. On the left side of the park, the wood is sparse and you can see up a hill to private residences. Children don't usually go far off here. The other side of the park, however, is much thicker and blocked from view by bushes. There is a trail near the portapotty and if children should wander that way, they will find a tree with low limbs and probably want to hang on it. They may find inappropriate items or trash left from unauthorized "campers". Best to keep your children out of the woods or check around well before letting them play there.

Overall a very nice park! Small, but with ample green space, good landscaping and newer equipment. If you find yourself at the big park near the river and it is too crowded for you, Farnsworth park is a great alternative for play or picnic. Well done, City of Soldotna!

Karen Hornaday Park

 Karen Hornaday Park, Homer, Alaska

 

At the beginning of June we went to Homer for the day. It was gorgeous outside and we followed friends to the park at the top of the hill for a picnic lunch. I had not been to any playground in Homer, so I wasn't sure what we would find. I expected a semi-run down, wooden structure play ground equipment, since that is what we frequently find in small communities, including ours. I was so surprised to see a brand new park, customized with community flair and touches of area history!

Karen Hornaday park is located near South Peninsula Hospital, high on the hill above Homer. It is a brand new play ground, built by community volunteers, that opened just days before we visited. You can read about the project here.

The park has a Homer theme - features such as a fishing boat, a small village and driftwood sculptures all bring the flavor of this fishing town to the playground. There is ample parking both below and next to the park, as well as a wonderful campground, with a parking area and bathrooms above the park. The park is situated by two baseball fields, so you might consider parking above the playground if the lower parking area is full.

                                                                             Driftwood sculptures

 
From where we parked, the first thing we saw was the extra long slide. After watching my kids fly down the slide, I decided that I needed to try it myself. I handed the baby off to my oldest child and climbed in. The slide isn't big enough for an adult to sit up in, so I had to lay down. It is a looong slide, so I picked up a lot of speed on the way down and flew out the end of it, landing on my bum in the gravel. A little painful, but worth the trip! 

There is a designated toddler area in the play ground, with slides, a sand box, swings, a play house village, miniature ampitheater and a fun train that tots can climb in, over and around. There are even little picnic tables!

Top to bottom: Train, toddler tree house with slide exit, pioneer village, picnic tables, Mini ampitheater with xylophone. All pictures containing adults or children other than my own are used without permission. 

 The older children have the remainder of the park to explore. There is a climbing wall, 3 or 4 slides, a giant tree house, swings, monkey bars, and a fishing boat where you and your crew can pretend to bring in the biggest catch ever.

 Another one of my favorite features of the park is the driftwood slough. There is a drinking fountain at the top and all extra water runs down the slough, giving other children a chance to splash their hands in the water or pretend to pan for gold. 

 A few other tips: There is a pavilion with picnic tables opposite the park in the lower parking lot and at the time we visited, another picnic table near the bottom of the long slide and slough. If you need a bathroom, head directly to the camp ground parking lot above the park by continuing up the hill,  past the play ground entrances. You will find a very nice path down to the park from the parking area.

My children love this park. We were so pleased to find something new and original and the view cannot be beat!  I can't wait to come back for another day trip or camping trip.

Update: We did camp at the park and were lucky enough to get a spot very close to the playground.  The park is within walking distance of the Pratt Museum, where you can catch the Homer Trolley during the summer months and see Homer without moving your tent or motorhome! We had a great time.