Distraction is easy in Grass Valley with four magnificent state parks and the mighty South Yuba River. And yet if you’re looking for a bit of nature or a heckuva lot of fun in a small package, you don’t want to miss out on the hidden gem right under your feet – Condon Park.
What To Expect
Situated a stone’s throw from downtown Grass Valley, this 80-acre park is what every community park wishes it could be. The grounds are filled with tall shade trees and many walking trails along with a BBQ area, softball fields, the L.O.V.E. Building, basketball courts, bocce ball courts, a fishing pond, playground, and even a fir tree Arboretum.
Dogs Run Free!
Along with the amenities highlighted above, it’s also home to Dogs Run Free, an off-leash dog park. A 1.7-acre dog park within Condon Park opened in November 2011. The designated area for off-leash dogs is located at the end of Minnie Street, near the skate park. The park is fenced, has ADA walkways, benches, parking, water, double entry gates, and a separately fenced area for small dogs. Its perimeter trail around Condon Park also allows dogs, but they must be on leash.
Squirrel Creek Disc Golf Course
For disc golfers, the highlight of Condon Park is its disc golf course. Not just an afterthought, this course is rated by visitors as arguably one of the best in the state. The 18-hole course with an additional 9 zips through tall pines, manzanita, and oaks. With tight tree-lined fairways, a year-round creek, and elevation changes, it’s a recipe for a challenging round to anyone that visits.
Skatepark
Nevada County might be known for its history and quaint towns, but the skateparks here are legit. In fact, the Condon Skatepark, designed by Zack Wormhoudt, is ranked top 10 in California by Skateboard Magazine. The large 23,000 square-foot concrete in-ground public skatepark with both vert and street style features has smooth transitions and banked turns, giving it great flow.
Trails
For those that want a bit of a nature, the western half of the park is fairly wooded with a trail network that whips and winds its way through. The trail system is quite popular for runners, walkers, and bicyclists. And in the spring, it’s also one of the easiest spots to see why Nevada County is a northern California birdwatcher’s paradise.
