A couple of weeks ago, I packed up my hiking gear and drove to Stafford Lake Park in Novato, CA. I’ve been hiking all the county parks, and, although Stafford Lake didn’t have a park map, I figured I’d check it out. I ended up “hiking” about 2.2 miles, circling to the right around the lake and kind of along the disc golf course. It wasn’t really a hike, I must say. But I was stunned by the view of the lake and even more amazed by this park.
Because even though Stafford Lake Park is absolutely not a park for hiking, it’s a park designed for all sorts of other activities, and I wish I’d had that in my childhood.
Activities at Stafford Lake
Bike Park
The bike park has facilities for all skill levels, from a perimeter trail to a jump course. Occasionally the park hosts competitions (check Marin County Parks’ events calendar for those). The park is maintained largely by volunteer efforts (check the Parks’ website for volunteer events too), and it’s really impressive. Next to the bike park is a pavilion with picnic tables.
No electric bikes are allowed. And helmets are required.
Disc Golf
The park has an 18-hole disc golf course, spaced out around the lake and going up the hill. Over two separate times I’ve visited the park, I’ve seen at least four groups of people playing disc golf.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed on the shores of Stafford Lake. The lake has catfish, bluegill, and bass. Be aware that a fishing license is required.
Volleyball, Softball, and Horseshoes
There’s a volleyball court on the lawn, as well as two softball back-stops. There are also two sets of horseshoe pits. Just as with disc golf, you’d have to bring your own equipment.
Picnic Areas & Playground
There are multiple picnic areas, including one large, covered area near the bike park, and at least one other covered area on the right side of the park. On the left, there are smaller picnic areas, interspersed with a bunch of hammocks. There is also a playground on that side.
Events at Stafford Lake Park
Marin County Parks occasionally hosts events at Stafford Lake Park, including bike competitions and volunteer opportunities. I’ve also seen astronomy nights at least twice this year already.
Why More Parks Should be Like Stafford Lake
This is a park for everyone – a park for the whole family. I remember growing up in Marin and either going to a park with a playground or a park with picnic tables. I’m sure my parents were bored sitting around while their kids had all the fun.
Stafford Lake, however, has activities for the whole family. Our parks should be designed for people of all ages. And Stafford Lake isn’t restricted to families, of course. Though the bike park and playground are for kids, the disc golf course, fishing, and other sports are for anyone. The events held at the park, such as astronomy nights, are popular among all ages.
There are multiple restroom facilities, which sounds like something not even worth mentioning, but considering how concentrated Stafford Lake Park is, I was genuinely surprised to see more than one. It’s a small thing, really, but makes a large difference when visiting the park. Parks like this should be functional, and restrooms are a pretty key function, especially when the park is clearly designed for spending significant time there. Perhaps the disc golfers and bikers will come for an hour and then leave, but the families who come to picnic, play on the playground, nap in the hammocks, and play some casual sports can easily spend an afternoon at the park.
Which leads me to my last point: third places. You may have heard a lot about third places recently because this discussion seems to be a popular one. Once, places like coffee shops and bar dominated the third place category, but who really hangs out at these places regularly anymore? Younger generations connecting online, the cost of going out multiple times a week, or a gradual shift towards building our social lives in our own homes rather than outside them–whatever the reason for the loss of third places is, there are also community efforts to build new types of third places.
A park like Stafford Lake is a great example of a third place. There is no fee to enter or spend time there. No one is trying to sell you anything while you’re at the park. There are multiple group activities and things to do for all age ranges. And you might encounter people from a diversity of backgrounds. This is not a private park for the wealthy or hidden inside a gate community. This is quite literally a park for everyone, where different groups of people can spontaneously interact with each other.
The only disappointing thing about Stafford Lake Park was how far out of the way it is. It’s on the edge of Novato, and you can only get there by driving. But this is a small thing, and if the park were in the middle of Novato, it would be easier to get to but wouldn’t be on a lake shore. And it wouldn’t have the abundance of adorable wildlife that I spotted on just a 2-mile walk: at least six deer, four rabbits, a gopher, and countless geese and other waterfowl.
