Billy Wardle Happenings

Two really unique things about this River Edge park in Iowa, the big tall alien.  It is actually called a humanoid.  It is 33 feet tall.  Sculpted by Tom Friedman.  It is title "Looking Up."  The other thing is the pelican themed playground.  Charity's kids like this, especially Owen.  

 This park is on the corner of Jagerson and Bank.  It is different as it does not have grass.  It does have a shaded picnic area, a dog park, a porta potty, a softball diamond, and a play ground.

 Canyon Shadows is a park on the west side of Kingman.  It is off of Crestwood, just north of Gordon.  The park is long and narrow and follows a wash.  In fact after the park, on the west side across the street, the wash continues up the hill and makes a nice hike.  In meanders between the back yards of the houses, as does the park itself.   This park has many amenities: horse shoe pits, picnic areas, playground and sidewalks for walking from one end of the park to the other.  Going beyond the park, hiking up the wash is a bit rough with rocks, but it does present with some nice views.

 I ventured on a hike starting from our residence.  This is as far east as you can go in Kingman on the north of I-40.  I went east on Diamond Joe past were the residences end.  I then cut through int the wash, but got out of the wash onto the dirt road when I heard lots of cooing and wanted to investigate.  There was a flock of doves but they took off when they saw me.  I continued north on the dirt road until I hit Airway.  This is where a new Kingman City Park is being developed.  I have heard it is to be a soccer complex.  As of now it is a pile of bushes.  However they have been improving the drainage on Airway in preparation for developing the area.  I then walked back going past Desert Willow Middle School and then south on Prospector. flowers yucca type plant ants cholla future park Desert Willow Middle School rocks I picked up beetle This shows the road east of town, future park is north of Airway by the middle school The r...

We ventured to the water park several times this summer.  We got the best pictures this last visit.  When I go I am hesitant to fully immerse myself but like to get close and feel the cooling of the water drops.  However s you can tell from kids and grandkids they are having a good time.  There is usually a time spent at the nearby park as well.  

 Kingman, according to my calculations and not counting school diamonds has 15 ball diamonds, of which 13 have lights.  Seven lighted of these diamonds are at Centennial Park.  In addition there is a nice covered playground, a large field for soccer playing or flying kites and paths for walking.   The center for racquet sports in Kingman is Centennial Park.  They have tennis courts, two in door racquetball courts, and new pickle ball courts.  You can use the outside of the racquetball complex to hit the ball against the wall.  Unlike other communities where I have lived, the courts are locked and only accessible after paying a fee at the recreation complex.  The fee is minimal, like $3 for and hour and a half of play.   The park also has picnic and grills.  There are horse shoe pitching areas.  There is an area with basketball hoops which can also be used for volleyball.  Beyond the outfield of one of the ball diamond...

  Welcome to Kingman Two: Local Parks One of the most important things to me, in a community is the parks; the ball diamonds and recreation.  As I visit Kingman parks I hope to add information to this blog entry so as to remember what I like.  An unusual characteristic about Kingman parks is that many of them have covered playgrounds.  I understand the covers were put in in the past year--a testimony to the sunny summers in Kingman. Kingman Park  is off of Andy Divine/Route 66.  It is well situated with plenty of trees.  It sports a dog park that is well frequented.  The park also has a grassy play area with a backstop for a family game.  The park makes a nice rest area for any traveler going past.  Hubbs Park   is off of Fourth Street south of the railroad tracks and the train station.  This park highlights the Hubbs House which is the first in Kingman with siding.  It is now used as a head start.  The playground in ...