The first stop in the library. It's a beautiful modern building. They have books for checkout, movies for checkout, and a section where they sell books. There's a coffee shop, a gift shop, and the HB Playhouse is held in the basement. If they don't have the book you want, they will get it for you. There are lots of fountains and statues outside, as well as benches to sit on. Parking is free, and covered.
There is a gazebo and hall for rent, and I guess you can have a wedding or a party there. Today, there was a wedding, and I have seen sweet 16 parties, and school dances there.
The Adventure Playground. This venue is open from June to September. Kids can play in mud, dirt, build things, swing on ropes, and all kinds of messy stuff. Then they shower off and change into clean clothes when you pick them up. Kids love it.
The bandstand. It's hard to see, but it's right behind the library, so you can park in the library lot and bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. They have concerts on Friday nights during the summer. The schedule is in the library.
This is a picture of the Alvin Coen Overnight Campground. You can reserve the space and set up tents, and use the fire pits. Today, a soccer club was using it.
There are playgrounds scattered around here and there throughout the park. They all have restrooms nearby, and parking is close. It was funny - there was no one in any of them today. I guess people thought it may be hot still. Usually, there are people in every one.
There are two restaurants in the park. The first one is The Park Bench. All seating is outside, under umbrellas. Dogs are allowed, even encouraged. Today, it was packed. Every table had a dog or two. They serve big breakfasts and lunches, and there is a dog menu.
This is a view of the library from the back. There is a plant maze back there, and a couple of small ponds. Due to the drought, the ponds are pretty dried up. The maze has a fence around it, so kids can go in and not get lost. I almost always see the birdwatching club back here. Today, they were all looking up into a tree. I looked up and saw some kind of big nest. They were way more excited than me.
There are lots of trails and paths in the park. People run, walk, walk their dogs, ride bikes, and push others in wheelchairs. It's usually really nice out, and it's usually peaceful. You sometimes see a homeless guy or a weird person, but it's never deserted, and I have never been scared, even when I go off the trails and run through the bushes.
This is the Shipley Nature Center. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 to 5. There is a nice trail to walk inside, and there are gazebos and benches scattered throughout. It is super peaceful in there - a good place to talk to someone. They also sell native plants and have classes and tours. You can get the schedule in the gift shop. I have a friend who has lived in HB for 25 years, and had never been until I showed it to them.
This is the second restaurant. It's called The Lakeview Cafe. It used to be Alice's. It has indoor and outdoor seating. The big attraction is the birds. They sell fowl food, and you can feed ducks, coots, and geese (Canada geese and huge white geese). They also allow dogs if you sit outside. Alice's used to have awesome cinnamon rolls, but I haven't been there since it changed.
They have a dog agility club that meets on Saturday. They put their dogs through races, obstacle courses, and jumps. The dogs seem to love it, and it's fun to watch. There are a lot of Border Collies there, but other breeds as well.
HB Dog Park. This is a free, large area where dogs can roam and play off the leash. It is fenced in, and has water troughs for the dogs, and seats for the owners. There are separate areas for large and small dogs. It's really fun for your little friends. My dogs have always dug it.
This is a view of the large lake. You can walk or run around the entire thing. The restaurants are on one side, and the dog parks and horse stables are on the other. It's doing pretty good despite the drought. This is photo of a Canada goose and her baby. I took it as I ran around this section of the park.
The last area is the dunes area. It serves s few purposes - there's a Frisbee golf course, some BMX bike paths, and sand dunes where kids use radio controlled cars. This is the only part of the park where there isn't much shade, and it's all dirt and sand. Little boys seem to love it, and there were 3 groups of guys playing Frisbee golf.
So that's your tour !!! If you ar eever bored and need somewhere to go or somewhere less boring to run, try the park. And while you're there, look for an elderly woman running - I will either be carrying a lazy chihuahua, or trying to keep up with a frantic min pin.
