Manuel J Barandas Park

I feel like a very lucky girl to have this park right around the corner from home. Spacious and perfect for dog owners, it seems to be one of the lesser known parks in Natomas. A lot of times when I stop by it’s just me and my four-​legged buddies.
A fairly large recreation area for little tykes attracts suburban families living in the condos and apartments across the street. A large field equipped with soccer posts dominates the majority of the space. Most weekdays, there’s a big adult men’s soccer game happening during the noon hour. Free lunch time entertainment ladies!
There’s a single baseball diamond in the back corner. Finally, a tree-​lined bike/​walking trail runs along the back. This trail meanders across the freeway or to other parts of Natomas.
There’s a large mesh covered picnic area available. Alas, as is so often the case these days, the drinking fountains are dry. Booooo Sac City Parks & Rec!!!
I much prefer coming here rather than going to Discovery Park for my frequent picnics with the pups. I’ve never had issues with vagrants or excessive trash here. Even though it’s not a dog park, I often see other dog owners joining me in breaking the leash law with their well trained pups and enjoying the ample open space. There’s four or five trash cans to help you be a responsible pet owner as well.
Just steps away from Carl’s Jr., Jack in the Box, Togo’s, sushi, Chinese or Indian, it’s an ideal spot to bring a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy a little Mother Nature.

Picnic!
Went here last Saturday and had a nice picnic. This park is a bit underdeveloped, but was clean and a nice spot to relax. It’s also good to take your dog there for a run. We saw several with dogs who were very nice to talk to.

Nice quiet park. I like the openness to it. It backs up to the bike trail. Parents with youngsters, business people, and a soccer match were going on while I was visiting the park. Feels safe. I wouldn’t drive to this park just for the park’s sake, but if you live or work in the area, it’s a nice place to retreat to.