West of Saratoga Creek lies Central Park, a popular recreational space with playgrounds, picnic areas and a pond. Located in the city of Santa Clara, the park is county-run and spans over 52 acres. After a long and exhausting week, the two of us decided to visit the park for a change in scenery and reconnect with Mother Nature.
Arriving at 10 a.m. on a Sunday, we found the weather to be ideal for hanging out and while there were other people around, it didn’t feel overly crowded. There were geese and ducks everywhere. With the intention to paint, we quickly settled at a table in the picnic area and laid out our paintbrushes, watercolor paper and acrylic paint before looking around for inspiration.
The first thing we noticed upon entering the park were the flocks of Canada geese. Though they were pleasant to watch, we did not particularly appreciate the large quantity of goose poop that was strewn across the pebble walkways and hidden in the grass. We advise anyone who plans on visiting the park to wear closed toed shoes and tread carefully.
The park boasted a play structure, paved walkways, a fountain and pond that attracted all the ducks and geese. The lush grass was dotted with small wildflowers, and roses were just beginning to blossom.
The highlight of Central Park was a large pavilion. Located at the heart of the park, it was an excellent place to find some shade and settle down for our painting session. Families picnicked at the numerous tables available, children rode tricycles and others gathered for activities.
We also noticed some rather bare cherry blossom trees in the park, adding a new kind of beauty to the landscape. When we were painting, a kind grandpa came up and chatted with us. He said that during mid-February, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and many artists had come to paint the trees.
While taking a walk around the park, we realized just how beautiful the scenery was and how peaceful day-to-day life is when we all slow down.
Our recommendation is to go there for hangouts, especially during early spring when the flowers are in bloom and there are many animals in sight. We found the atmosphere to be peaceful yet welcoming, inanimate yet beautiful. Though the park is a little far, being a 20-minute drive from the school, we thought that it was worth it and would visit it again.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Falcons
