Last weekend, thousands of people gathered for a weekend full of live music, food, games and exhibits to celebrate the grand opening of The Park at River Walk. The new 32-acre park is located at 11200 Stockdale Highway behind the Elephant Bar.
The park offers a large amphitheater with plenty of seating and a big grassy knoll behind the bleachers for additional seating.
The amphitheater was already broken in during the opening weekend where many bands played, which included a Beatles tribute band on Friday called the Fab Four, Thee Majestics on Saturday, Mento Buru on Sunday and many more bands throughout the weekend.
One of the big focal points of the park are the lakes on both ends. One is 2 acres and the other is 3 acres. Many people took advantage of the fishing, sailing their model boats, or just relaxing nearby.
Craig Brewer, 34, who was observing one of the lakes while waiting for his wife, said, “I’m just glad that we have somewhere close and don’t have to drive all the way out to Hart Park anymore.”
A rock stream runs through the park between the two lakes, where many children and dogs were playing and cooling off from the mid-80 degree heat. There are also bridges to cross over the stream, which many people used to pose for photos.
Across the way from one of the lakes is a large play area, which is fully equipped with play ground equipment and benches nearby where adults sat to look after the children. There are several barbecue pits scattered throughout the park and two covered picnic areas with tables which are available to reserve for parties.
The trees around the park are still very young and don’t provide much shade, yet, as one Bakersfield mother found out as she scrunched under one of the trees with her 3-year-old daughter, “It’s hard to find shade around here!” said Sarah Munoz, 28.
Although there were several vendors scattered throughout the park for the opening, there should be plenty of open, grassy space, for playing sports or just running around whenever they cleared out.
There is also a long path where people can walk, bike or skate through which also connects the park to the popular restaurants Elephant Bar and California Pizza Kitchen.