| Title Howe Park an Invitation to a Walking Tour. | |
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by Joyce Peterson Los Rios Community College, Geography 350: Data Acquisition in GIS; Fall 2008 | |
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Abstract Introduce Howe Park, show its beauty, importance and value by using and appreciating it and other parks. My goal is to insure the Parks continued existence in the future (If you don’t use them, you may lose them). | |
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Introduction The Fulton - El Camino Parks and Recreation District provides valuable services and resources to those in the local community and visitors to the area. Howe Park is one such example. It is a lovely tranquil setting in the midst of an otherwise busy and well traveled area. It is located at the corner of Howe and Cottage at 2201 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.To justify the upkeep and management of such facilities people must continue to use and enjoy what is provided. Let me take you on a walking tour through this lovely park, and introduce you to some of the amenities and activities offered here, in hopes that you will come and enjoy them soon. | |
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Background I’ve been coming to this park for over 32 years and wanted to share it with others. I went to the worldwide web as my source of some basic information on Howe Park and I found a few websites that mentioned it and even offered an aerial view of the park. Formed in 1956 as a Recreation and Parkway District, the Park District was established to provide land and recreation opportunities for the growing suburb of Sacramento County. The name was officially changed to Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District in 1958. The district was established and still operates under authority of the Public Resources Code, Section 5780; the district is an independent, special, recreation and park district governed by a five member, elected Board of Directors. (Fulton-El Camino Parks and Recreation District website History page). | |
| Here is an arieal view of the park that I got off the website. |
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Methods First, I researched the park by looking up information on the worldwide web. I also contacted via email the FEC Parks and Recreation District office and the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation district office. I relied on the information on the web and information provided by the park itself to fill in some of the details I used in this project. Then estimated how much time I would need to walk, photograph, make notes and mark the waypoints via my GPS unit.
I used a Sony, Cyber-shot 3.2 mega pixel digital camera to take my photos, a Garmin GPSMAP 76S to take my GPS readings (GPS settings UTM 10 and NAD83), and a pad of paper and pencil to write my notes. It took a couple of hours in the park photographing, collecting the waypoints, and making the notes for each of the areas I wanted to feature in this presentation. It was awkward to juggle all of the items I was carrying and switching back in forth between the camera, the GPS and the notepad and pen was a bit of a problem, also it started getting dark which presented problems with the photographing. I also found a few pictures on the FEC Parks and Recreations District website that I copied and saved for this project.
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The sign at the corner of Cottage Way and Bell Street welcomes you to Howe Park. I invite you on a walking tour of the park. I have photographed some of the sites and activities available at this wonderful park.
GPS Coordinates: |
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Playground #1 offers fun for the little ones.GPS Coordinates: |
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Playground #2 offers fun for the little ones and big kids too.GPS Coordinates: |
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The Wet & Wild sign, shares plenty of information of the types of animals and insects found in and around the pond area. It marks one entrance to the gazebo.GPS Coordinates: |
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| Some of the birds in the park include - Kingfish, Wood duck, Killdeer, Mallard duck, green heron, coot, and pied-billed grela. The ducks in the pond are next to the gazebo, so I didn't provide seperate coordinates for them. |
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Here is the Gazebo as viewed from across the pond. However I took my waypoint next to the Gazebo.GPS Coordinates: |
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Throughout the park are family areas to picnic on a table and use a barbacue grill.GPS Coordinates: |
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| This is along the meandering creekside as seen from the meandering walkways that wind through the park. Little bridges cross the creek on occassion allowing you to look at the creek in it's natural form. No coordinates for this because the walkways wind throughout the park. |
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The Covered Picinic & BBQ Area is available to book for parties it can accomodate one large party up to 300 or two smaller parties of about 100 each. The barbecues are large and they are right near the sand Volleyball courts, large grassy play areas, ample parking and bathrooms.
GPS Coordinates: |
| There are two sand volleyball courts and nearby parking.GPS Coordinates: |
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If baseball or soccer are your game, you've come to the right place this facility has lighted baseball diamonds. GPS Coordinates: |
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Just beyond the ball diamonds there is a wonderful area for dogs and their owners to socialize in the "Howe About Dogs Park. Dogs run free and romp with other dogs while their owners share stories about their pets.GPS Coordinates: |
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Conzelmann Sign welcomes you.GPS Coordinates: |
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| The Park offers a great Community Center named Richard T. Conzelmann Community Center. If you can find the sign you're here, no coordinates necessary. |
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Santa Anita Park - Bell Street Entrance.GPS Coordinates: |
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Methods First, I researched the park by looking up information on the worldwide web. I also contacted via email the FEC Parks and Recreation District office and the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation district office. I relied on the information on the web and information provided by the park itself to fill in some of the details I used in this project. Then estimated how much time I would need to walk, photograph, make notes and mark the waypoints via my GPS unit.
I used a Sony, Cyber-shot 3.2 mega pixel digital camera to take my photos, a Garmin GPSMAP 76S to take my GPS readings (GPS settings UTM 10 and NAD83), and a pad of paper and pencil to write my notes. It took a couple of hours in the park photographing, collecting the waypoints, and making the notes for each of the areas I wanted to feature in this presentation. It was awkward to juggle all of the items I was carrying and switching back in forth between the camera, the GPS and the notepad and pen was a bit of a problem, also it started getting dark which presented problems with the photographing. I also found a few pictures on the FEC Parks and Recreations District website that I copied and saved for this project.
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Results Park Features Include: Two Children’s Playgrounds, individual picnic tables and BBQ grills, open play areas, a creek, a pond with fishing piers, a Gazebo, Soccer fields, a large covered area with picnic tables, ample barbecues, restrooms, “Howe About Dog Park” – fenced facilities for dogs and their owners to socialize, dogs permitted off leash in enclosed dog park area. Howe Park boasts 4 Softball Diamonds, (2 lighted), 2 Sand Volleyball Courts (lighted). They have 8 Tennis courts (lighted, token operated) and a tennis wall for practicing alone. Easily accessible this park offers off street parking, with 1 parking entrance off of Cottage, and 2 parking entrances off of Bell Street. One of the Bell Street parking areas is directly across from the pedestrian entrance to a smaller park know as Santa Anita Park. This park is small with a winding pedestrian walkway, grassy areas and a creek that winds it way through both Santa Anita and Howe Parks. The Richard T Conzelmann Community Center and FEC Parks & Rec. District Offices are also in Howe Park. (Bounce Houses for children’s parties are allowed please check website or call for more details.)
At the Richard T Conzelmann Community Center: This multi-purpose facility can be used for many things, weddings, theater performances, conferences, board meetings, banquets, reunions, birthdays, and anniversaries. The community center can be used as a classroom, as a boardroom, with square or round tables, or as an auditorium (it will seat up to 100 classroom style, or 196 theater or banquet style). | |
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Analysis I underestimated how long the project would take. Next time, I will allow more time or take fewer photos. I will also take an assistant with me or set up an easily carried bag with enough easy assessable compartments to carry and switch out the needed items (GPS, camera, etc). | |
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Conclusions Continued use of our parks and recreation areas will show planners we value the resource. I’ve been visiting Howe Park off and on for the past 32 years. I’ve walked many times around that lovely park. I’ve past by it thousands and thousands of times over the years and enjoyed the scenery of the trees as they go through the many changes with the seasons. I’ve played tennis there, had picnics there, and sometimes just lay in the grass staring at the clouds. I think Howe Park is beautiful and it has many things to offer. Please don’t wait; bring your family, or a friend to walk with, or a dog to play with and come to Howe Park. Start enjoying it today, so it will be here for tomorrow. | |
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References To rent facilities at Howe Park contact Richard Leimbach at the district office: 2201 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825,phone 916-927-3802 x121 or E-Mail: rleimbach@fecrecpark.com. More information is available via the worldwide web.http://www.fecrecpark.com; http://www.cityofsacramento.org/parksandrecreation/links.htm; You can look at the FEC Fall Activity Guide at: http://www.fecrecpark.com/images/FEC%20F08%20(2).pdf; and for more information on the Dog Park visit: http://www.dogparkusa.com/california/sacramento/howe-about-dogs-park | |