Woodward Community Park
Rate this placeNearby: Tesoro Park Terra Bella Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Woodward Community Park is a beautiful and well-maintained park located in Fresno, California.
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Summary
It offers a variety of amenities and attractions, making it a perfect destination for visitors of all ages. Here is a summary of the park, including reasons to visit, points of interest, interesting facts, and the best time to visit, verified across multiple independent sources.
Reasons to Visit:
1. Recreational Opportunities: Woodward Community Park provides numerous recreational activities, including sports fields, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Visitors can engage in soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball, and even horseback riding.
2. Water Activities: The park features a large lake where visitors can enjoy paddle boating, fishing, or simply relaxing by the water.
3. Unique Dog Park: Woodward Community Park is home to a spacious and well-designed dog park, offering separate areas for small and large dogs. It is an ideal place to let your furry friends run and socialize.
4. Skate Park and BMX Track: Thrill-seekers can enjoy the skate park and BMX track, which are renowned for their challenging features and attract extreme sports enthusiasts from all over the region.
Points of Interest:
1. Shinzen Japanese Garden: Located within Woodward Park, the Shinzen Japanese Garden is a serene and meticulously landscaped garden. It showcases traditional Japanese elements, including a koi pond, tea house, and beautiful cherry blossom trees.
2. Birdwatching: The park is a haven for birdwatchers, as it is home to a wide variety of species. Woodward Park's diverse habitats and lake provide an excellent opportunity to observe local and migratory birds.
Interesting Facts:
1. The park spans over 300 acres, making it one of the largest regional parks in California.
2. Woodward Community Park was named after Ralph Woodward, a local resident who donated the land to the City of Fresno for public use.
3. The park was established in the 1960s and has since become a beloved gathering place for the community.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Woodward Community Park is during the spring and fall seasons when the weather is mild and pleasant. This allows visitors to fully enjoy outdoor activities without extreme heat or cold. It is advisable to check the park's official website or contact the Fresno Parks and Recreation Department for any seasonal events or closures.
Sources:
1. Fresno Parks and Recreation Department: fresno.gov/parks/facilities/regional-parks/woodward-park
2. Visit California: visitcalifornia.com/attraction/woodward-park
3. AllTrails: alltrails.com/parks/us/california/woodward-park
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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