mckinley park

michaelhT5113KF

McKinley Park is a part of Sacramento's history. Streetcars once went into the park and turned around for their journey back to downtown Sacramento. The rose garden is beautiful and a site of many weddings. Children and adults enjoy watching the ducks and geese that live at the pond. Nice atmosphere. Nice gathering place.

Aprilfoolizzy

My friends had lived in nearby Rancho Cordova for over 50 years, and they had never been to this wonderful park! I considered it my duty to just show them some nature in the middle of the city. While we were there, there was a Malard duck Mom with 3 babies. Well, a larger bird swooped down from one of the trees....and then there were 2. They really didn't want to leave. We visited for 2 hours. We also noticed many turtles sunning themselves on the ponds shore.One of my friends is handicapped. And the other is very elderly, 95. Neither had any problems walking around the park. We really had a wonderful time!

Done_with_shoveling

We have family that lives just under a mile from the park, so we come here when we visit. The playground is new within the last two years and is great for little ones and bigger ones up until about nine. The gravel jogging paths are popular and in good shape. The duck pond has a nice selection of ducks for the kids to see just watch your step!There is a lovely garden, however, I cannot comment as we typically come in the winter and do not see it in bloom. As for the homeless population, yes there is one in the park. I have never had a problem with anyone here and I have run several times here alone and I am female. I think you are more likely to have a run in with an overzealous toddler at the playground than one of the guys hanging out in the park area. This is a city park and as such I think one just needs to be aware of their surroundings. As others noted, this place is very popular on the weekends. The bathrooms are not lovely but work in an emergency...

ElizabethAtlanta

Spend time in the rose garden when the flowers are in bloom. The playground is exceptional for toddlers and preschoolers. Children will also enjoy watching the birds around the pond.

StaceyL865

Its right of the highway and close to downtown, they offer a kids play area, grill and picnic tables and there's a trail to walk around the lake that offers a fountain. Nice place for a date or to bring the kids.

986kiml

The Shepard Garden and Arts Center has a plant show almost every weekend. It is the go to place for every plant genre. Unusual bromeliads, orchids, begonias, native plants, African violets, succulents, carnivorous plants...you name it, there is a plant show for it.The shows are free, but it is hard to walk away with out buying something. The displays are often breathtaking. See this years bromeliad show display below.

CA7777

This is a good place to go walking on a well-used crushed granite path. There are lots of walkers and runners in the evening, and it is safe even after dark. The rose garden is a city treasure. Avoid the coliform-laden duck pond, and please do not feed the animals.

569milesr

Parking may be difficult...a public tennis court is used and place to sit and have a lunch. Can be warm in the summer....the rose garden is best in spring and fall.

249EricY

Nice flowers. Great for picnics, jogging and walking. Close by restaurants and a great place to start walking thru the "Fabulous 40's" to look at all the mansions.

kcdenman

There is a lovely duck pond, flowers galore, places to watch tennis lessons, but if you want to picnic, bring your own table or prepare to be kicked off those that have been reserved for giant birthday parties.

KamoHaze

Mckinley Park is a great place to run with your family. my wife and i take our 9 month old out there and have a blast. If you use the public bathroom near the swimming pool and basketball court beware! last time i was there i saw a homeless man washing his clothes in the sink. They are usually polite, and just going to through some personal issues. The playground is a lot better and safer now for your little ones. ON the weekends it can get really busy at the basketball court. So if you want to play some hoop, you found a great spot. just keep your eyes peeled b/c there are an excessive amount of homeless people there. So you might end up running out of fear not just for fitness Purposes.smile more stress less.look out 4 more Sage traveling advice from Travel and Rhythm and Kamo haze.

RioVistaMomma

There are play structures here that I have never seen before - one is a variation on the merry-go-round. This is one of the best, if not the best playground I have every seen. Our 3 1/2 year old was running from one thing to the next for over an hour. We then took a walk around the pond that was full of turtles, ducks and geese. Lots of benches in shade and picnic tables. We arrived at 10am and it was very pleasant. At 11am a busload of school age children arrived and changed the atmosphere - they were well behaved, just made it crowded. There is a water fountain by the playground but we didn't see any restrooms. Next door is a library that is closed Sunday & Monday. The public pool opens in June.

Bridgiewig

This park is fantastic. If I go running, this is where I would like to run. It is exactly a mile around the whole park and there are always people walking, running, or walking their dogs around the park. There are also tennis courts, a pond with ducks, BBQ areas, a playground for kids, and a rose garden. This is a fantastic place to spend a day at the park with a picnic and some games. There are also concerts in the park (Pops in the Park) in the summer that are a lot of fun. Love this place!

CalGirl84

It is the coolest park in Sacramento. In November, all the trees lining the street were covered in yellow foliage. Was really pretty. The rose garden was amazing. We also saw a lot of ducks and geese in the nearby pond.

983AnneL

Forget the great playground before the vandals torched it! This NEW playground is out of this world. Soft ground under the equipment, really a superb play place! There is a merry-go-round with spinners that I'd have loved to try but I didn't think a grandma should kick off a nine year old :~)There is also a garden, library, duck pond with turtles and large grassy park area. You can spend all day, or just an hour (if you can pry your kids off the equipment)