Why the Eastside Rocks: #2 Juniper Park & Pool
You can read the general introduction to this series here.
Why the Eastside Rocks #2:
Juniper Park & Pool
The 22-acre Juniper Park surrounds the Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, bounded by 5th and 8th streets and nestled in between Irving and Franklin Avenues. The park itself offers a baseball field, a kids’ playground, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a mile of walking trail, picnic facilities, and plenty of space.
The Pool is recently expanded and offers state-of-the-art facilities at their fitness center besides swimming; I posted a review from Shannon here last December. In addition to the two indoor pools (one regular, one kiddie pool), they also have an outdoor Olympic-sized pool, and a new outdoor activity pool—waterslide and all.
It’s also one of the oldest parks in Bend and is well-established and popular. Now, there’s no arguing that the Westside has some great parks, particularly along the river, but for casual family fun, and for lots of space, Juniper Park is right at the top of my list.
Plus, the public pools! Where else in Bend are you going to go for your swimming fix?
(Image courtesy of Bend Parks & Rec.)
I was going to suggest this. I would so love to live within walking distance of Juniper.
Another reason the east side rocks: it has a longer growing season! I live on the west side; the woman we bought our house from abandoned it for the east side, where the sun is. She said she couldn’t wait to get out from under these ponderosas. (I’m partial to the ponderosas, but I understand what she meant!)
Interesting, I wouldn’t have thought of the growing season difference… not east-west anyway; there’s always been more of a disparity north-south (north is longer/warmer). But maybe I’ll use it anyway 😉
Do I need to make something up called "Why SW Bend Rocks?"