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A man sits on a park bench beside a bike, his hair in a black bandana, his back to the camera and the right side of his face gazing toward it.

People of Richmond: What is your favorite park?

on October 11, 2023

“People of Richmond” is a regular series in which reporters pose a question to people in the community. Answers are presented verbatim, though sometimes edited for brevity.

Q: What is your favorite Richmond or Contra Costa County park, and why?

“I spend most time at Wild Cat Canyon. Catch turtles, catch animals. ride my bike through the trail. I like it compared to many other parks in Richmond because at least that park has bears and wild lives. It actually has growing plants.” (Mauricio Bey, stock broker, pictured above)

A man with curly dark hair, a slight mustache and beard stands behind the counter in a liquor store in front of lots of bottles of booze, wearing a dark hoodie.

“Crescent Park, because that’s just where people be at.” (Stachio Alammari, cashier)

“I would say [Shimada Friendship] park, just being next to the water, it’s peaceful to walk next to it on the trail. He likes it too.” (Diana Castro, behavioral therapist)

Diana Castro is wearing a white hoodie with black shorts, and sunglasses. She appears to be at a park with her black dog and a Starbucks drink in her hand.

John Wilson with a full head of brown and gray hair, brown and gray beard and mustache and lavender collared shirt gives a slight smile.

“I just turned 50 years old today and I grew up in Richmond. I would say my favorite park is Crescent Park. It was nice and right across the street. I loved to go on the swings and play with my friends.” (John Wilson)

“I used to go to the Nevin Park down the street and like pretty much all aspects of the park were fun. I remember there was a big field for running and soccer, also a playset area like swings and monkey bars I grew up on. It was nice being a kid there and hanging out with friends and family.” (Caleb Finley, facilities director)

A young man with shaved black hair and a black zip-up jacket sits on a white couch, smiling broadly, in a room with dark wood paneling.

“I I would say the Marina … I guess because I just usually go there to jog or run. Just because the water’s there, so it’s pretty relaxing, pretty easy walk or stroll.”

(Rolando Ocampo, auto center manager)

“I like the Richmond Marina. I like the air, especially in the evening for the walk. It’s really refreshing, and I find a lot of people over here.” (Rachana Macharjan, financial analyst)

A woman in black rimmed sunglasses smiles with white ear phones around her neck, her dark hair pulled back, wearing a gray T-shirt with short navy sleeves.

Nick von Beroldingen, wearing blue shorts and a blue plaid button-up shirt with a blue t-shirt underneath, smiles against a backdrop of the blue ocean and rocks.

“We just moved here a year ago, and we live just over there in the townhouses, so I walk this path [in Shimada Friendship Park] every single day. So by default ,this park is my favorite.” (Nick von Beroldingen)

“This park [Shimada Friendship] is the best, to relax here by the water. The best part is when we take lunch. But we clean, trim, and cut trees.” (Jesus Covarrubias, city groundskeeper)

Jesus Covarrubias sits in a white truck with a City of Richmond Parks sticker, accompanied by a friend. He wears a grey polo shirt and a black cap, smiling at the camera.

“MLK. They have a soccer field, basketball and track. I play soccer and used to play it in the park when I was 16. I’m 18 now.”

(Fidel Torres, college student)

A bus driver in long dark braids, a mustache and a neon yellow vest over a short-sleeved light blue collared shirt and dark pants and sneakers stands next to a white bus with a red and blue stripe.

“I would have to say, right off of Macdonald, it’s Nicholl Park. Nicholl Park is very big. I’ve been there a couple of times, brought my dog, even been there with a car show.” (Blane Weaver, paratransit driver)

“I do like Marina Bay Park. Going down towards the marina is a nice bike trail, and that bike trail connects you to a variety of places.” (Al Barber, appraiser)

A man in glasses and a cap smiles with arms crossed in front of his purple and white shirt.

A woman in a black bike helmet and dark black-rimmed sunglasses sits on a bench in a park in between two bikes.

“My favorite park is Miller/Knox. My favorite part is literally the pond. It’s a beautiful scenery, very meditation-like. You also have the beach with Keller Beach next door, and there’s a lot of sea breeze. I can use my binoculars and see San Francisco Bay.” (Roxy Bey, painter)


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1 Comments

  1. roxy bey on October 17, 2023 at 8:16 pm

    What a humble and beautiful showcase of opinions from people in richmond about their favorite parks. I haven’t been to all the parks mentioned. Not to mention Mr. Bey looks handsome!



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