Bowdoin Park Office

Had indoor archery class, and it was awesome! Lots of fun with two great teachers. Definitely scored a bullseye! Made it a family event.

My family and I have been trying to enjoy this park and, for he most part, have been successful. That is until today when a maintenance worker told me not to treat the pavilion as a "second home" and that we were "keeping people from wanting to use the pavilion".... to treat a place as a second home I'd need a first home. And we have been welcoming of anyone who comes by. I offer food, we talk for a bit. But nobody has come to utilize the pavilion that we have frequented the most days the past 2 weeks. Everyone besides this one worker has been welcoming and accommodating as long as we didn't use a pavilion that was rented for the day. We stay out of the way and clean up after ourselves. This is a beautiful and safe space for families to relax and enjoy nature. Last time I checked I didn't need to have a home to enjoy a free public park without bothering anyone. If this happens again I will grant his wish and not return, but I will have a few words to say to their supervisor.

Family friendly! They have a multiple-playground setup with swings, climbing, and slides so kids of different ages can all enjoy without being in each others' way, adjacent so that parents can watch both. Also a water area with four kinds of sprinklers and water cannons (limited range so you can't get everyone in the area). Had a great time with our eighteen-month-old, and I think it will be even better in a couple years when he can use the larger playground.

We visited prehistoric sites in Bowdoin Park including a rockshelter where Indians periodically visited at least 7,000 years ago. Along the way we found sherds of fire-cracked rock, evidence of ancient hearths. Two bald eagle fly-bys added an aura of wildness. Excavations in the park by Donna and Jack Vargo (1983-1984) discovered a series of sturgeon butchering sites and smoking huts along the river dating to about 4,000 years ago. For one day at least, we were all able to strip away the modern landscape and sense the serenity of long ago.
- Cara Bowden, Tom Lake

We had a large birthday party and rented the Bowdoin Park Auditorium. The office was helpful to let me know my options and the party worked out well. It was a great price for renting a lot of space. The only problem with renting the Auditorium was that guests saw the "Office" sign and out of town guests didn't realize the Auditorium was on the other side.