Welcome!
We kept this week’s walk short and close to home for two reasons:
- It was freezing and sleeting.
- It was my birthday, and I didn’t particularly love the idea of spending it freezing in the sleet.
Now let’s see if I can keep this blog post just as short…
Wes Bennett Park
If I asked you to picture a suburban, neighborhood park, odds are you’d imagine something very similar to Wes Bennet Park. It’s set on the corner of a neighborhood block, with tall pine trees creating a sort of barrier between it, the elementary school next door, and the busier street on its west side. It has a sloped, healthy green field outlined in cement walking paths, as well as playground equipment, a splash pad, and half of a basketball court.
It is a gathering place for families and children during the warmer months, and a popular walking spot for the health conscious, dog owners, and health conscious dog owners. (To be clear, I do not consider myself “health conscious”. I eat too much Taco Bell for that.)
Honestly, there isn’t much else to say about this park. It’s exactly what you would expect and, for many, exactly what you would want from your local park.
Stats & Specs
This is the part where I break down the park by the numbers!
Park Specs:
- Distance: 1.24 miles. This accounts for the walk to and from the park as well as for a thorough investigation of the available paths.
- Elevation Gain: None/negligible. There is a little cut off down through the trees that takes you to the elementary school fields, but I think it’s more meant for drainage than walking.
- Hours: 5am-10pm
- Environment: This is your run of the mill neighborhood park. It has playground equipment, half a basketball court, a splash pad, and a field with some stragetically placed benches. It’s not very big, but does benefit from sharing some space with the elementary school right next door. The park itself is situated on a corner that’s fairly quiet, so there was only mild traffic noise. There are a few stands of trees, but it is mostly open. It was quite frigid while we were out, only 31 degrees and it was actively sleeting, so weather conditions were less than ideal. That didn’t deter other dog walkers, however. We saw at least five other dogs on our outing, which made for a very stressful little jaunt, as Simon is extremely dog reactive. *sigh*
- Condition: Great! This park is newer and very well maintained. All the sidewalks were clear of leaves and other wintry detritus despite recent wet, windy and even snowy(ish) conditions.
- Popularity: This park is extremely popular. As noted, even in weather I would consider generally wretched for being outdoors, several other folks were utilizing the park while we were there. In the nicer months the park is never empty and it is a popular spot for children’s birthday parties. That and the proximity to an elementary school means that I don’t visit this park too often. It’s just too noisy.
- Uses: Walking, playground activities, field sports, basketball, birthday parties, etc., It’s a very nice neighborhood park, but nothing mind-blowing.
My Stats:
- Duration: 33 Minutes
- Pace: 27’20”
- Average Heart Rate: 111 BPM
- Max Heart Rate: 138 BPM
- Active Zone Minutes: 11 Zone Minutes
- Steps: 3,002
- Calories Burned: 248
My Gear:
- Pacific Trail Outdoor Wear Women’s Jacket.
- Watcher Entertainment Zip Up Hoodie. It’s black and says “Paranormal Bad Boys” on the back. It does not offer much warmth, but it’s soft.
- Mystery Columbia Pullover with Throat Zipper in Black Heather
- Adidas GalaxyTrail Trail Runners
- Fleece-lined leggings, black
Simon’s Gear:
- RuffWear Front Range Dog Harness, in Aurora Teal
- RuffWear Knot-a-Leash Rope dog leash, in Aurora Teal
- Pendleton Westerly Dog Sweater
Suggested Gear:
- Any comfy walking shoe. This park is very accessible and predominantly paved. Wear the right show for the weather and activity level.
- Layers. I’m just going to keep saying it.
The Verdict
It’s a nice park, but it’s small and it’s always so ding dang busy. I’d rather drive somewhere a little less popular and have it all to myself.
I LOVE this park! It’s all paved so my paws don’t get muddy, there’s a ton of good sniffs here and on the way to and from the park. And there’s ALWAYS at least one other dog to bark at! But, it’s still a little short…
It’s a decent park that serves its purpose well. Its purpose just doesn’t really line up with my preferences for my outdoor time. I want quiet and solitude, a time to unplug and get some exposure to nature. Wes Bennett is too popular and central to meet those needs.
That's All Folks
I don’t know if I’ll be back before Monday. I had an idea for a blog post, but I also have been playing a lot of God of War so we’ll see which urge wins out…
Until then, Bloggos!
BZ
