Ellsworth C. Zacharias Park

"My granddaughter had her soccer game here☺️"

"I’ll give it 4 stars because it’s a very friendly and very clean park but the air flow is unreliable and actually quite chaotic for any kite flying. Other than that... I’ve climbed a few of the big ol’ trees and have bar-b-qued there and even spent most of the night there on occasion. It’s very safe. (always use your best judgement and stay aware of your surroundings no matter where you go- it’s 2021 after all) The park has levee/river access and it’s Greenhaven so there will be people observing your comportment so behave yourselves and you’ll have no problems. It doesn’t get all 5 stars for 2 reasons. One reason is a great reason really... sometimes the big grassy lawn that is actually a soccer field, is in use and the big lawn is therefore not available for playing frizbee or chase with your fun-loving dog nor for flying your lively kite (homemade or otherwise); which brings us to reason number 2 for not rating it with 5 stars: it’s a really challenging (lousy) spot for flying kites. All the great and big trees there, along with the proximity of the river and her two levees, cause no small amount of bizarre wind anomalies and kite crashing downdrafts. When you do get a kite up there, it will soar to 1500’ or 2000’ easily but there IS an airport within 10 miles or so so watch your ceiling. It’s a nice neighborhood and neighborly park and part of the levee bike trail that (with interruption at chicory bend- a large city-owned [parks n rec. to be specific, owned but not maintained] piece of land adjacent to a big bend in the Sacramento R that locals wish they could keep all to themselves) goes all the way downtown via Old Sac. It’s popular for recreational riders as well as commuters and up there on the levee, it’s wise to walk with awareness and definitely with a light at night lest ye be the victim and the cause of a bike-pedestrian collision. There are no lights up there for those strolling, biking or sight-seeing after dark so stick to the park below or have your own illumination. There is a nice and usually very clean playground area for kids and there are a couple if picnic tables on slabs (bolted down to prevent relocation to shadier parts if the park or worse) but there are no public restrooms or even porta-pottys so go before you go. Enjoy your visit and remember that the locals there WILL have an eye on you but won’t probably bother you ; but if you are there getting up to no good... they won’t hesitate to call the po-po on your sketchy [butt]."

"Expansive and beautiful park! Entrance to the pathway of the Sacramento River is right there too. Great for a stroll with the kiddos or pups!"

"I like this park... its very family oriented, and its just the perfect size for young children up to twelve years old. It has a picnic table and a public grill. Plus not to far away a water fountain."

"Love this ship shaped park and how close it is to the American River trail. We like to hop on, do a hike then play at the park. No bathrooms though"