My name is Xavier Cunningham. I am a high school Dreamer from the Colorado I have a Dream program and I have grown up watching Central Park develop as a community. I didn’t know about a lot of the great things in Central Park, yet I have learned many great and surprising discoveries: and hope to tell you about these unique places, through my eyes, in this blog series called “Did You Know?” Introducing the eighth story in the series
Eastbridge Pocket Parks
Central Park is known for its vast array of “parks and open space” throughout the community. Did you know that Central Park now has over fifty public parks? These parks come in all different shapes and sizes. You have big parks, like Central Park and Westerly Creek Park. There are more medium sized parks, like The Green and Conservatory Green. Then you have smaller parks, also known as Pocket Parks that are hidden all over the residential neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has different pocket parks with varying themes and/or purpose to them. For example, Rumble Park and Cherry Pie Park are based on the “senses”. Here are some of the pocket parks located in the Eastbridge and Bluff Lake neighborhoods.
Rumble Park
This park may be a little noisy with kids talking to each other through speakers located on different sides of the park. As you can probably tell from the name, Rumble Park is based on the sense of sound. It is very cool how they incorporated this theme into the park so well. There are different textures (aka scoring) in the sidewalks that you can hear when you ride a skateboard or scooter across it. There are also little red speakers strategically positioned roughly loft apart, so that kids can talk to their friends to. And just for kicks, there is a great concrete area that serves as a great amphitheater for little performances, or a great place to play four square.
Cherry Pie Park
Cherry Pie Park is a creative and artistic kind of park that is more meant for meeting and talking than it is for playing. But what is especially cool about this park is the recipe holder where the community can share their great recipes with others. This small pocket park is shaped like a piece of pie, and there are even a couple rows of Montmorency cherry trees free for the poaching.
Square Park
Square Park is very “square” indeed. I say this because not only is the park a perfect square, but so are the features in the park. From the trees, to the bushes, to the benches, everything is symmetrical. This park is great for gatherings, small soccer games, and other things of a playful nature.
Sail Park
This little park hides better than most Pocket Parks. This triangular park is great for taking a walk, sitting, visiting, and stopping by old Mr. Bird at his birdhouse. There are a few beautiful gardens with varying flowers blooming in each one for you to see when relaxing on the benches or walking around the park.
Arc Park
Arc Park is a great area for the kids. It has a cool playground (one with a sand box) on the eastern and western side of it. There is also a nice sized field in the middle, with a beautiful garden full of many blooming flowers. It even has a few nice benches for parents to sit, visit, and keep a good eye on the kiddos. Arc Park is one of the larger pocket parks and is adjacent to the F-15 pool.
Learn more about Central Park’s vast collection of parks and open space by viewing the new Parks Brochure.
